Peer-reviewed article
An Exploration of Social Norms That Restrict Girls’ Sexuality and Facilitate Child Marriage in Bangladesh to Inform Policies and Programs
Ruchira Tabassum Naved, Sadhvi Kalra, Aloka Talukder, Anne Laterra, Tanha Tabassum Nunna et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study examined social norms in northern Bangladesh that support child marriage, particularly those controlling girls' sexuality and mobility. Researchers conducted interviews with adolescent girls and boys, focus groups with parents and youth, and key informant interviews with community leaders. The study found that expectations for girls to restrict movement, avoid male peers, and have minimal say in marriage decisions reinforce early marriage practice. Girls and families perceived as violating these norms face pressure to marry early to protect family reputation.
Key points
- Social norms restricting girls' mobility, engagement with male peers, and decision-making authority are central to maintaining child marriage practice
- Girls and families considered 'at risk' or perceived to have violated sexuality norms face intense pressure for early marriage
- Early marriage is used as a mechanism to protect family reputation when girls are seen as threatening social norms
- Social norms controlling girls' sexuality are the primary drivers underlying child marriage persistence in northern Bangladesh
- Interventions addressing only education or economic opportunity without tackling underlying social norms are unlikely to achieve sustained reductions
Limitations
The study is qualitative and exploratory, based on a limited sample in northern Bangladesh, so findings may not represent all regions or communities in Bangladesh or other contexts. The study identifies norms that support child marriage but does not evaluate interventions to change these norms or measure their effectiveness.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Despite international commitments and increases in education and economic opportunities for girls and young women, child marriage persists and, in some contexts, reductions have stagnated. In order to accelerate and sustain progress, a better understanding of the social norms that continue to support the practice is required. METHODS: This qualitative study used 20 in-depth interviews with adolescent girls and another 10 with boys, a total of 16 focus group discussions with girls, boys, and parents of adolescent girls, and 8 key informant interviews with community leaders, to identify and understand the expectations that support the practice of child marriage, in communities in northern Bangladesh. RESULTS: Expectations that girls will restrict their mobility, limit their engagement with male peers, and take extremely limited decision-making roles in their marriage reinforce the practice of child marriage. Girls, and their families, that are considered at risk of or are perceived to have violated these norms face immense pressure for early marriage to mitigate damage to both their own and their families' reputations. DISCUSSION: Social norms that are primarily engineered to control girls' sexuality continue to underpin the practice of child marriage in Bangladesh. Efforts to reduce child marriage such as through increased education or economic opportunities must also address these norms if substantial reductions are to be achieved and sustained in the long-term.