This episode introduces the concept of gender norms and explores how they are changing. It looks at gender norms through a historic lens to demonstrate that while change is slow, it is happening. Part 1: What are gender norms?Part 2: Change happens In this podcast, we speak to:- Dr Caroline Harper, Head of Programme/Principal Research Fellow, ODI- Dr Nicola Jones, Principal Research Fellow, ODI and Director, GAGE- Dr Anita Ghimire, Director, Nepal Institute for Social and Environmental Research - Rachel Marcus, Research Associate, ODI- Bekele Tefera, independent consultant, Ethiopia- Nikki Van Der Gaag, Director of Gender Justice and Women’s Rights, Oxfam Great Britain

This episode unpacks some of the many challenges associated with changing gender norms.Part 1: The paradoxical nature of change creates challengesPart 2: What are the wider conditions needed to facilitate change?Part 3: Even if change is happening, there are powerful forces pushing backInterviewees (May also appear in the previous and following episode)Carol Watson, independent researcher Dr Florence Kyoheirwe Muhanguzi, Senior Researcher, Makerere University, UgandaPaola Pereznieto, Research Associate, ODIDr Fiona Samuels, Senior Research Fellow, ODI

We explore three distinct areas of opportunity to change gender norms: policy and the law, communications, and education. We conclude the series with a reflection on the nature of gendered norms and provide opportunity for listeners to individually act on the lessons learned.Part 1: Policies and laws to empower adolescent girlsPart 2: Communications, girls’ clubs and normsPart 3: Girls’ educationConclusion: Gender norms affect all of us: knowledge and understanding leads to changeInterviewees (also featuring interviewees from previous episodes)Dr Erin Murphy-Graham, Associate Adjunct Professor, University of California - Berkeley