How social norms shape who leads and decides in politics | WYDE | Women’s Leadership Initiative

For far too long, social norms and deeply rooted beliefs have stood in the way of women’s full and meaningful participation in politics. However, before changing social norms, we need to understand: what are they, how do they interact with gender equality and in particular women’s political participation? 

This educational video features social norms experts as they explain how social norms constitute an obstacle to women’s participation in decision-making, how we can address and change these discriminatory social norms while sharing some of the concrete tools to challenge social norms. The interviews were collected during the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on social norms convened by UN Women under the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) | Women’s Leadership Initiative. 

Launched in 2024, the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Initiative is a global multi-partner effort to advance women’s full and effective political participation and representation in decision-making at all levels, particularly for those most often left behind. Funded by the European Union, WYDE Women’s Leadership leverages collective action, partnerships, and transformative social norms to create impact globally. 

Social norms experts (in order of appearance): Paro Chaujar, Policy Advisor on Social Norms, UN Women; Amalia Alvarez-Benjumea, Research Fellow, the Spanish National Research Council; Naila Kabeer, Professor Emerita, London School of Economics and Political Science; Sonia Palmieri, Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University; Jennifer Piscopo, Director of the Gender Institute at Royal Holloway, University of London; Abosede Alimi George-Ogan, Executive Director, Women in Leadership Advancement Network.