ABSTRACT

The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.tandfebooks.com/doi/view/10.4324/9781315180250, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license

Adolescence is a pivotal time in a girl's life. The development of educational, physical, psychosocial, familial, political and economic capabilities enable girls to reach their full potential and contribute to the wellbeing of their families and society. However, progress is still significantly constrained by discriminatory gender norms and the related attitudes and practices which restrict girls’ horizons, restrain their ambition and, if unfettered, allow exploitation and abuse.

Empowering Adolescent Girls in Developing Countries explores the detrimental impact of discriminatory gender norms on adolescent girls’ lives across very different contexts. Grounded in four years of in-depth research in Ethiopia, Nepal, Uganda and Viet Nam, the book adopts a holistic approach, recognising the inter-related nature of capabilities and the importance of local context. By exploring the theory of gendered norm change, contextualising and examining socialisation processes, the book identifies the patriarchal vested interests in power, authority and moral privilege, which combine in attempts to restrict and control girls’ lives.

Throughout the book, Empowering Adolescent Girls in Developing Countries demonstrates how efforts to develop more egalitarian gender norms can enable disadvantaged adolescent girls to change the course of their lives and contribute to societal change. Accessible and informative, the book is perfect for policy makers, think tanks, NGOs, activists, academics and students of gender and development studies. 

chapter |21 pages

Introduction

The significance of adolescence in the life course
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part 1|40 pages

Ethiopia

chapter 2|19 pages

‘Sticky’ gendered norms

Change and stasis in the patterning of child marriage in Amhara, Ethiopia
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part 2|39 pages

Uganda

part 3|37 pages

Viet Nam

chapter 6|17 pages

Intersecting inequalities

The impact of gender norms on Hmong adolescent girls’ education, marriage and work in Viet Nam
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chapter 7|18 pages

Triple invisibility

The neglect of ethnic minority adolescent girls in Viet Nam
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part 4|44 pages

Nepal

chapter 8|16 pages

Small but persistent steps on the road to gender equality

Marriage patterns in Far West Nepal
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chapter 9|13 pages

Continuity and slow change

How embedded programmes improve the lives of adolescent girls
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chapter 10|13 pages

Conclusion

Pushing the boundaries of social order: adolescent girls and norm change
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