Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Social and Reproductive Ramifications for Men Supporting Gender equity Efforts

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Much effort has been made toward attempting to improve our understanding of what variables inhibit and aid gender equity efforts. Studies of what drives social change in gender norms have tended to focus primarily on measuring women’s experiences; little is known about why certain men opt to support equity efforts more than others. This doctoral dissertation project addresses this gap, documenting variation in men’s beliefs about gender equity, and the consequences they face for violating patriarchal norms. This project trains a graduate student in methods of scientific data collection and analysis. The results of the project will be shared in scientific publications and with relevant organizations, highlighting implications for the improved design of culturally sensitive equity initiatives. The project will be conducted in a rural community undergoing rapid socioeconomic changes associated with urbanization. The researchers will use focus groups and interviews to first capture local understandings of what it means for men to support women’s equity across multiple dimensions (i.e., economic, social, sexual, and reproductive autonomy), and provide in-depth knowledge of men’s personal experiences challenging the status quo. From this foundation, survey data will be used to estimate the consequences of men violating traditional norms for their relationships with other men (e.g., community respect, capacity for leadership) and women (e.g., desirability as a partner, control of reproductive decision-making). The project will also examine how men’s age and education modify their experiences. Through this in-depth study, the research will provide insights into the costs and benefits of gender norm violation, evaluating and enhancing anthropological theory regarding the drivers of cultural change and gender relations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.