Peer-reviewed article
[Not Available].
Alis Bambara, Madeleine Wayack-Pambè, Idrissa Ouili, Georges Guiella, Alexandre Delamou ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how gender socialisation affects the aspirations and future plans of young adolescents in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Researchers surveyed 10 primary schools with pupils aged 9-16 and held focus groups with parents to understand how gender stereotypes influence children's expectations about marriage and childbearing. Girls showed earlier aspirations for marriage but later aspirations for having children, while boys showed the opposite pattern. The study suggests that strict adherence to unequal gender norms during this critical developmental period may expose young people to risks related to sexual and reproductive health.
Key points
- Gender stereotypes significantly shape the life aspirations of pre-adolescent and adolescent girls and boys differently
- Girls internalising gender norms tend to aspire to marry earlier but have children later than boys
- Boys show earlier aspirations for childbearing and later aspirations for marriage
- The gendered effects of socialisation may expose both girls and boys to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes
- Interventions promoting egalitarian gender norms could improve self-esteem and mutual respect among young adolescents
Limitations
The study is limited to one city (Ouagadougou) in Burkina Faso and therefore findings may not be generalizable across francophone Africa or beyond. The document does not report on actual behaviours or health outcomes, only on aspirations and attitudes expressed by young people.
Abstract
Studies show that gender socialisation shapes differently the gendered identity, self-esteem, and sexual behaviours of girls and boys. While pre-adolescence is viewed as a pivotal period for gendered socialisation, few studies in francophone Africa investigate the role of gender identity effects on aspirations and sexual and reproductive behaviours at this life stage. This article explores how the internalisation of gender stereotypes during socialisation is linked to the aspirations of girls and boys for certain life events, such as having their first child or getting married. A survey was conducted in 10 primary schools in Ouagadougou, among pupils aged between 9 and 16 years, as well as seven focus group discussions with their parents. The findings indicate a gender-based variation in the effects of adherence to unequal gender norms among young adolescents. As a result, girls tend to have earlier aspirations towards marriage and later aspirations for childbearing, while boys show earlier aspirations for childbearing and later ones for marriage. These effects may expose both girls and boys to risks of poor sexual and reproductive health. Interventions promoting egalitarian gender norms could boost girls' self-esteem as well as mutual respect among young adolescents of both genders, aiming to improve their sexual and reproductive health during adolescence and into adulthood.