Abstract
Purpose
Although the importance of exposing adolescent boys to gender transformative programs
has been recognized, such programs are limited in India. Studies that assessed the
relative effect of intervening in early compared with late adolescence are even more
limited. This article examines the differential effect of exposing boys to a gender
transformative program in early and late adolescence on their gender role attitudes
and practices.
Methods
We used data from a cluster randomized trial of a gender transformative life-skills
education cum sports-coaching program for younger boys (aged 13–14 years) and older
boys (aged 15–19 years) (N = 962) and used generalized estimating equation model to
examine the differential effect.
Results
The intervention had a greater effect in helping younger than older boys to espouse
gender-egalitarian attitudes (β = .669; p < .001 vs. β = .344; p < .001) and attitudes rejecting men's controlling behaviors (β = .973; p < .003 vs. β = .453; p < .088), men's perpetration of wife beating (β = .423; p < .002 vs. β = .282; p < .035), and violence on unmarried girls (β = .332; p < .038 vs. β = .306; p < .045). Younger boys had higher odds of reporting that their peers would respect
them for acting in gender-equitable ways (odds ratio [OR] = 2.15; p < .003) compared with older boys (OR = 1.78; p < .014). However, younger boys had lower odds of intervening to stop incidents of
violence that they had witnessed, compared with older boys (OR = 2.17; p < .03 vs. OR = 2.56; p < .002). These differences remained significant even when difference in regular exposure
to the intervention was adjusted.
Conclusions
Gender transformative programs are likely to be more effective in changing traditional
attitudes and practices among boys if they target them during early adolescence compared
with late adolescence.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 18, 2019
Accepted:
March 11,
2019
Received:
October 15,
2018
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.
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- Gender Norm Transformative Programing: Where Are We Now? Where Do We Need to Be?Journal of Adolescent HealthVol. 66Issue 2
- PreviewThe very interesting and well-executed study by Gupta and Santhya published in this month's Journal raises both complex and challenging questions [1]. What they have shown is that when the same school-based gender transformative programming is delivered to younger (aged 13–14 years) and older (aged 15–19 years) boys, the impact of the program appears to be significantly greater for those who are younger. Specifically, the authors found that attitudinal change was greater for the younger group, as it relates to gender egalitarian attitudes, such as the rejection of men's controlling behaviors and the perpetration of wife beating.
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