Norms are usually defined as the rules and regulations of any society. These norms usually govern the behaviour and conduct of the people. Gender norms are such a set of norms defined by the various institutions of society including religion, family, and Marriage. Gender Norms in our country have been rigid and static.
Men and women are socialised in particular ways so that they accept the prescribed roles assigned by society and behave accordingly. Women are socialised to accept their roles as those meant for others—as a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a wife, and a mother. These norms restrict women from having aspirations beyond marriage. Men are brought up to be the ones who control their wives and daughters and exercise more power. Both men and women are influenced by such norms.
“Child marriage is used as a strategy to preserve such customs and traditions that are an extension of the normative conditioning that adolescents are subject to from infancy. As a number of studies in India have shown, these societal threats coerce adolescents to conform to norms. Consequently, the control of the patriarchy, endorsed by community support, is perpetuated from one generation to the next “(Seth, et. al, 2018).
Research shows that Gender norms play an important role in the continuation of social issues like child marriage and hence it is crucial for people to break free of these norms and the rigid patterns of thought which result in inequality and discrimination. IMAGE is taking action to create a better world by changing the norms and thinking patterns of communities in the rural areas and empowering lives.
IMAGE brings about these changes by spreading awareness and sensitizing the families of the target population on gender, SRHR, health, and nutrition of girls and young women through the campaigns and meetings. IMAGE has also created clubs wherein the spouses and families are counseled for the prevention of gender-based violence and establishing rights of women. Along with these efforts, IMAGE is developing women themselves as leaders and change agents and hence changing the old mindset about dependent women.
Through this article, IMAGE gives a message to the people: If we change the way we think, we can create a better world. If we break free of the age-old and obsolete norms, the future generations will live happily in the coming years.