Recorded presentation

Julie Pulerwitz, ScD¹, Ravi K. Verma, PhD², Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, MSc³, S. S. Khandekar⁴, Gary T. Barker, PhD⁵, and M Segundo⁵. (1) Horizons project, PATH, 4301 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 280, Washington DC, DC 20008, (202) 237-9400, jpulerwitz@pcdc.org, (2) Population Council, Horizons, 53, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, India, (3) Population Council, Lodi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India, (4) CORO for Literacy, Near Container Yard, Suman Nagar, Suman Nagar, Chembur, Mumbai, 400 071, India, (5) Instituto PROMUNDO, Brazil, Rua Francisco Serrador, 2/702-Centro, CEP 20031-060, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

While there is increasing recognition of the influence of norms that support inequitable gender relations on HIV/STI risk and partner violence, few empirical studies have used a validated measure for gender-equitable attitudes and norms to determine baseline levels, or have compared responses across cultures. The GEM Scale was developed with a community-based sample of 15-24 year olds (n = 224) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To determine how relevant these norms are in the Indian cultural setting, the items were then administered to 65 young men aged 18–29 from low-income communities in Mumbai, India. There was substantial variation between responses of Indian and Brazilian men, with Indian men consistently more “inequitable”. 97% of Indian men report that “women should be virgins until they get married” as compared with 18% of Brazilian men; 55% of Indian men agree that “women who carry condoms on them are ‘easy’” while 14% of Brazilian men report the same; and, 98% of Indian men agree that “a woman should tolerate violence in order to keep her family together” compared with 7% of Brazilian men. Findings suggest that the GEM Scale is a sensitive and cross-culturally relevant assessment tool that measures men’s attitudes and norms on issues related to gender, violence, and HIV/AIDS risk. The scale is currently being used to evaluate the impact of an HIV and violence-prevention program in Brazil, and a similar study is under development in India.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about differences in gender norms between Indian men and Brazilian men and implications for HIV/STI and violence prevention.
• Participants will learn about a measure for gender norms that is sensitive and appropriate across cultures.

Keywords: Gender, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation