What Works for Women and Girls

positive impacts. The quasi-experimental study, which followed three groups of youngmen ages over time, compared the impact of different combinations of program activities,including interactive education for young men led by adult male facilitators and acommunity-wide social marketing campaign to promote condom use as a lifestyle thatused gender-equitable messages that reinforced the messages promoted in the educationsessions (Pulerwitz et al. 2006). (Gray III) (gender norms, STIs, condoms, violence,Brazil)Promising Strategies:3. Changing norms regarding the acceptability of concurrent partnerships can be successful.Focus group discussions with women and men in Zimbabwe to discuss underlyingfactors and programs in 1992, 1999 and 2006–2007 mirrored epidemiologic surveyfindings from 2000 to 2005: social norms changed to reduce acceptability of casual sexand payment for sex. “Men reported that having an STI or being seen with a partnerother than one’s wife was no longer a sign of manhood. Behavior changes in terms ofpartner reduction were consistently reported in focus group discussions among men.”Men also could no longer afford multiple partners and participants mentioned messagesconcerning fidelity and increased availability of condoms (Muchini et al., 2008). (GrayIV) (sex behavior, sexual partners, Zimbabwe)Gaps in Programming—Transforming Gender Norms1. Changing prevailing gender norms dictating multiple sexual partners for men andsexual ignorance and submissiveness for women and girls that can lead to increasedHIV rates is a current challenge. Further well-evaluated interventions are needed.2. Programs to transform gender norms should address homophobia as part of thedefinition of masculinity.1. Changing prevailing gender norms dictating multiple sexual partners for men and sexualignorance and submissiveness for women and girls that can lead to increased HIV ratesis a current challenge. Further well-evaluated interventions are needed. Studies found thatwomen felt at risk for HIV yet without power to negotiate sex or condom use. Studies foundthat both men and women thought multiple sexual partners for men to be an acceptednorm in many countries. Media reinforced these gender stereotypes.WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS297