Measuring social norms for gender and development: Lessons and priorities

Beginning with the premise that measurement is not a neutral or power-free process, this discussion paper reviews seven key examples of how social norms are being measured in efforts to achieve gender equality. The examples include studies by the OECD, UNDP, World Bank, and UN Women. The aim is to take stock of these approaches, identify emerging lessons, and assess gaps and limitations in order to produce improved social norms measures.

The authors identify four cross-cutting shortcomings from the examples:

• inconsistencies in definitions and measures of social norms;
• unclear causal pathways;
• poorly evidenced or conceptually under-justified recommendations, especially about legal reform and the positive role of private sector actors within interventions to shift social norms; and
• failure to consider collective agency and contentious politics.

These all limit the effectiveness of norms-based work in improving gender equality outcomes.

The paper concludes by outlining components of a future framework for measuring social norms and gender equality, suggesting what should be measured, why, how, and by whom. The authors put forward two clusters of priorities:

• improving the internal consistency of measures; and
• incorporating emerging best practices through long-term, participatory norms measures that encompass gender equality outcomes and address institutional dimensions of social norm change.

A focus on these should result in a more nuanced and effective approach to measuring and addressing social norms towards the achievement of gender equality.

This paper is part of the “UN Women discussion paper series”.