Social norms, gender and development: A review of research and practice

This discussion paper provides a “state of the evidence” on social norms change within the field of gender and development. The paper presents findings from a scoping review of studies and evaluations of programmatic interventions to shift social norms, as well as insights from a broader body of evidence tracing how social change happens. It answers four questions:

• What are social norms?
• How do social norms change?
• How are social norms measured?
• What role (if any) should global development organizations play in shifting social norms?