Challenging Negative Social and Gender Norms to Ensure Healthy Diets

by Dorothy Akinyi, CARE

Have you ever wondered why some communities forbid certain foods to be eaten by specific groups of people? For example, some believe that eggs can delay a child's speech, or that only men should eat the fleshier and juicier parts of chicken because they work harder and spend more energy. Meanwhile, women and children are often expected to be content with soup and the bonier parts of chicken since they are perceived not to engage in hard work. Such beliefs, practices, and misconceptions can significantly impact the health outcomes of women and children.

The Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) project, through existing women and farmer groups, will conduct a gender and power analysis to understand the impact of different social and gender norms, cultural beliefs, and misconceptions on dietary intake, food production, and utilization. The project will target the counties of Nairobi, Nyandarua, and Nakuru in Kenya.

It is essential to note that children need more protein in their diet for growth and development, which can be found in eggs, meat, milk, beans, green grams, and other protein-rich foods. Adults, on the other hand, require proteins primarily for the repair of damaged tissue. Additionally, women need even more diverse and well-balanced meals during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Follow-up community dialogue sessions will be held to discuss the social and gender norms, cultural beliefs, and misconceptions about food and dietary practices that negatively affect the health of women of reproductive age and children below five years. These groups are vulnerable to malnutrition, either directly or indirectly. The conversations aim to understand the root causes of these norms, their perpetrators, and their repercussions. The project also seeks to identify opportunities to initiate norm shifts and to find change agents who can become ambassadors of change within different communities.

By understanding the implications of societal and gender norms, cultural beliefs, and misconceptions about food and dietary practices, the CASCADE project seeks to empower individuals and communities to take action toward ending these harmful practices and promoting gender equality. Through education, awareness-raising, and advocacy efforts, we will create a sustainable shift in attitudes and behaviors, ultimately improving health outcomes. Break negative gender and social norms, and spark a revolution for healthy diets!

Learn More about the work CARE has done under the CASCADE Project

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