Empowering Adolescent Project in Seven Districts of Uttar Pradesh

1. Empowering Adolescent Project in Seven Districts of Uttar Pradesh Baseline Assessment

2. Contents • About the Study • Our Understanding of Adolescent Empowerment • Approach • Project Locations • Field Process • Marriage • Gender Based Violence • Negotiating Life Choices • Household Chores and Leisure Time • Mobility • Communication • Attitude Towards Girls • Health • Education

3. About The Study

4. Our Understanding of Adolescent Empowerment Empowering youth means to: • Expand people’s ability to make strategic life choices in a context where this ability was previously denied to them. • Thus empowerment encompasses the context in which the person lives, the agency or ability to take decisions (process) and the achievement, which is the outcome of choices.

5. Approach Indicators Sampling Mix-method

6. Project Locations Map source: mapsofindia

7. Field Process Pilot of tools Data collection Field training

8. Marriage

9. Marriage Areas of exploration

10. Key findings Total Sample: 11579 Every 17th adolescent amongst the sample was found to be married Trend: In the last 2 years, the average age of marriage has been increasing MarriedPopulation amongst total sample: 6%

11. The issue of early marriage • Adolescents were of the opinion that the legal age of marriage should be pushed further than 18. • It was felt that 21 years was more suitable to get married so that basic education can be completed • It is considered socially inappropriate for adolescents to speak about their marriage • While many adolescents abide by the social norm that “elders know best and hence should be the only ones making decisions”, there are also those who do not speak due to the fear of being ridiculed/punished. • Low participation of adolescents regarding the decision of marriage “…(giggles)…hum heepehle se shaadikebaaremeinbaatkarengetohwohsochengekihumeinheejaldiparhihai…sirfbadheheebolsaktehaiwaisebhi….”

12. Early marriage from the lens of surrounding structures • Unregistered births • Social desirability bias whereby age of marriage was reported as being the same as the legal age of marriage • Early marriage is often linked to economic strains, whereby delaying marriages results in an increased dowry. • Adolescents having a say in the choice of partner/marriage related matters was seen as shameful and attached with the fear of stigma. • Marriage is viewed as a better alternative to sitting idle. “Bigadjaatihailadkiya agar jaldishaadina hui toh”. There exists societal pressure on the family to find a suitable groom for their daughter

13. Overall findings on the issue of marriage • It was found that though early marriages do take place, it has greatly reduced in recent times as there is a focus on education and there is a larger awareness regarding the legal age of marriage. • Lack of trust on adolescents leads to justifying early marriage on grounds of safety and morality. • Delaying marriages elicits community pressure on the family. Growing focus on Education

14. Gender Based Violence

15. Types of Violence Verbal Violence • Out of those who witnessed or experienced verbal violence: • A higher percentage witnessed or experienced it outside the household • More boys, especially aged 11-14, reported witnessing or experiencing it • Out of those who witnessed or experienced physical violence: • Most reported being slapped • A higher percentage of respondents witnessed or experienced it within the household • More boys reported witnessing or experiencing physical violence Physical Violence • Out of those (15-19years old) who witnessed or experienced sexual harassment: • A higher percentage witnessed or experienced it outside household • The percentage of those who reported experiencing it is insignificant Sexual Violence

16. Reasons of Violence Sexual Violence Not doing household chores, a reason given by respondents for experiencing violence (physical-46% and verbal- 51%) Higher within household Doing Domestic Chores Norms of Obedience • Revenge on past matter (within household- 40%, outside- 20%) • Victim under the influence of alcohol/drug (within household- 29.5%, outside- 17.1%) • Ditched or duped in an affair or relationship (24.1% outside) Highest percentage of girls reported this as a reason • Bullying (within household- 20.5%, outside- 18%) • Considerable difference between the percentages of girls and boys who witnessed any kind of sexual violence Going out to play/with friends only with permission Respondents stated that they experienced violence for going out to play/with friends (physical-33.7% and verbal-29.3%) Higher within household Studying Studying considered to be a purposeful activity, an irregularity in which resulted in respondents experiencing violence (physical- 38.7%, verbal- 34%) Violence faced both within and outside household

17. Perpetrators of Violence

18. Girls and Boys Experiencing Violence and Trying to Seek Help Experienced any kind of violence Tried to seek help • Experienced any kind of violence: • The highest percentage of respondents found to be that of boys aged 11-14 years • The lowest percentage of respondents found to be that of 15-19 years old girls • Overall, a higher percentage of boys reported facing any kind of violence • Triedto seek help: • The highest percentage of respondents found to be that of girls aged 15-19 years, closely followed by 15-19 years old boys • A marked difference observed, wherein the percentage of 11-14 years old boys trying to seek help, found to be much lower

19. Acceptance of Physical Violence Acceptable Reasons for Inflicting Violence on Boys Percentage of Respondents who find it Acceptable Acceptable Reasons for Inflicting Violence on Girls • Not Studying • Not doing Household Chores • 60.8% boys • 62% girls • 60.7% girls • 53.55% boys • Not Studying • Not Obeying Elders • 67% girls • 57.45% boys • 62.3% boys • 68.15% girls Percentage of Respondents who find it Acceptable • Not Obeying Elders • Fighting With Siblings • 69.25% girls • 59.75% boys • 58% boys • 56.7% girls • Not Showing Masculinity When Required • Talking on Mobile Phone without Permission • 41.8% boys (15-19 years) • 52.1% girls (15-19 years) • 54.2% girls • 52.1% boys

20. Attitude of the community towards Gender Based Violence Violence against girls/women shrouded in collective behavioural silence to protect honour • Honour of the Community Honour of a girl/woman, a microcosm Cases of violence within villages reported to Panchayat and attempts made to arrive at a compromise • Family Honour Cases of violence reported to the police only when the act of violence is grave • Individual Honour Domestic violence not considered as violence Socio-economic vulnerability and dependency of girls and women on the male members of the family a reason for silence, along with internalisation

21. Voices from the Field Voices from the field substantiate the quantitative findings and the inferences drawn

22. Negotiating Life Choices

23. Life Choices • The adolescents were asked if they discuss various important decisions of life with their parents/other family members. • The next slide summarizes the findings from the survey. The responses can clearly be segregated into three distinct categories: • issues that are almost never discussed between parents and children. • issues are discussed by a few children. • others that are discussed by about half the adolescents.

25. Reassertion of Needs Marriage: • Even of those few who do have discussions at home on age of marriage, only a very small percentage are able to reassert their views on the age of marriage, and of these the proportion of 15-19 year old boys is higher in comparison to girls in the same age group. • Field Discussions suggested that boys express their opinion openly to parents about marriage only when they are financially independent. • Despite the freedom in expression, eventual decision is taken by parents. • Girls don’t have the freedom of expression in marriage as there is an expectation from them to obey their parent’s wishes. Mobile Phone Usage: • Boys do reassert their needs regarding mobile phone usage as compared to adolescents in other age groups. • Adolescent girls prefer to keep silent either due to financial constraints or because they themselves find the usage of a mobile to be a distraction.

26. Leisure Time: • Since majority of the adolescent girls and boys do not discuss with their parents about having more leisure time, majority (about 65 % on an average) also do not reassert their needs about getting more leisure time than they usually get. • The maximum no. of adolescents who reported their need to get more leisure time incidentally fell in the category of 15-19 year old boys. • Some of the adolescents reported that they do not require to reassert their needs out of which 15-19 year old girls were the ones who reported this the most (27%) Education • Maximum no. of 15-19 year old girls reported that they reassert their opinions on the class till which they want to study as compared to the adolescents from other age groups. • More than 40% of adolescent girls and boys below the age of 15 do not reassert their opinions on education with their parents. • The reasons of differences between girls and boys can be attributed to the fact that girls see education as a means to delay their marriage and boys are always in a hurry to drop out of school in order to earn money. Mobility • While majority of the adolescent girls and boys reported that they don’t reassert their needs regarding going out of the house alone or with friends, there were also significant proportion of adolescents (15% on an average) who reported that they didn’t need to reassert their needs with their parents. • It was also found that Adolescent boys are more assertive in expressing their needs than the girls regarding mobility.

27. Household Chores and Leisure Time

28. Household Chores and Leisure Time Summary of Baseline Findings

29. Attitudes and Perceptions of Parents and Community

30. Perceptions and Attitudes across regions Luknow and Jaunpur Siddarthnagar Maharajganj • In districts like Siddharthnagar, mothers stated that girls want to learn skills and practice their hobbies but have nowhere to go. Their perception is based on the fact that by engaging in activities like stitching etc, girls would be doing something productive in their leisure time. • In Lucknow, some of the adolescent girls stated that they get a lot of free time since their parents are supportive of educating them and sharing their household burden. Districts like Jaunpur and Lucknow were found to be more progressive in terms of granting free time to adolescent girls. Perceptions around household chores and leisure time vary across regions. The underlying reasons behind these perceptions are either based on normative beliefs, exposure to greater opportunities or the idea that ‘free time should be used in productive ways’. Mothers were of the opinion that girls should not be given much free time and must be kept occupied so that their mind does not wander.

31. Voices from the Field • “ladkokozyadakhaalisamaymiltahai. Unko koi kuchnahinkehtakyunkiwohmata pita kopyaarehotehain” -a girl in Paharpur village, Lucknow • “Khelnejaatehain, tahalnejaatehain, TV dekhtehain, gaanesuntehain mobile par”, “Padhai, khelkoodhojaatahaikhali time main” -a girl from Varanasi. • “Sabkoaaraamchahiyehotahaichaheywohladki hi kyunnaho” -AWW in Varanasi • “Merakhudkaladkagharkekaamkaajkartahai” -a ASHA worker, Lucknow

32. Mobility

33. Mobility • Summary of Baseline Findings • Gender based differences in mobility were evident both from the places that were visited by adolescents and in the mode of transport used to get there. • Some places were visited mainly by boys and others by girls. In this context, some places were gendered. • Boys had greater access to all the places than girls in the same age group, with the difference being more for markets, fairs, banks, post office and for places outside the village. • Layered Mobility: Further there was an invisible boundary for both girls and boys in terms of the places they can visit and the time of visit for these places. For example-for girls, the accessibility to visit places was most within the community and the village. Places outside the village were least accessible. • Even within the village and community, it was found that there were certain places that were not accessed by girls in comparison to others like a village fair was more visited than the AWC.

34. Findings from the Survey

36. Safe spaces and invisible boundary for girls Least Accessed Places Most Accessed Places Friend’s Place

37. Perceptions and Attitudes Limited exposure and opportunities for girls due to lack of freedom in movement. Individual Level Distance and lack of schools near villages makes lesser no. of girls attend schools as compared to boys. Family Level Issues around Mobility Lack of leisure time for girls due to established gender roles and expectations Community Level

38. Voices from the Field “Kabhikabhigaonkebaharghoomsaktehain. Raatkojaane se mana kartehain par aur din meinbhizyaadasamaykianumatinahihai. Aaspaaspaidalya cycle se chalejaatehain”. - Boys FGD, Siddharthnagar “ekbaarbaatkarkedekhnachahiye, unkosamjhanachahiye, lekenwoh jo kahinge hum uskekhilafkabhikuchnahinkarte” -A girl in Lucknow Individual Level “Eksayaaniladkiaisezyaada door nahijaasakti” “Ladkiyanrishtedaarokegharakelejaasaktihai agar unkaghargaonmeinhotoh… Ladkiyanakelenahijaasakti bazaar yamelemein. Saheliyonkesaathjaanachahiyeya koi badasaathmeinhonachahiye” -a father in SeswaBujurg village “jug kharabhai, kisipebharosanahinhai. Apnebachiyonkosamabhalkerakhahai.” -FGD in Chhapwa Village, Maharajganj “Agar ladikyanbaharjaengitohgharkekaam main haathkaunbataega” -mother in Jaunpur Family Level

39. “Agar ladkikibaharnaukrilagihotohkyunnahijayegi, zaroorjayegi”. -a father in SeswaBujurg village Community Level • “Hum nahinchahateki jo humaresaathhua, who humariladkiyonkesaath ho. Aajkalladkiyankum se kumpadhaikarkebahartohjaatihain” -AWW in Paharpur village • “Faiydakyahai, ladkikogharpe hi rehnachahiye. Samajhameshataanemartahai agar ladkikoakelebaharjaanekiazaadidein” An ASHA worker in Gorakhpur

40. Communication

41. Communication • Summary of Baseline Findings • Only about 50% of the girls and 40% of the boys feel it is appropriate for boys and girls to sit together in class. Most feel that they should sit separately. • Majority of adolescent boys (61 % or more) reported that they have a negative attitude towards the usage of a mobile phone by girls. • However, a majority of adolescent girls (more than 50 %) reported having a positive attitude towards girls using a mobile phone. • Unlike the adolescent boys, adolescent girls did not think that increased use of mobile phone increases the chances of girls getting spoilt. • Inter-gender communication in schools was encouraged and considered positive by approximately 50% of both boys and girls despite there being a negative perception of mobile phone usage amongst girls. • However, the quantitative findings suggested that both 50 % boys and girls, on an average considered interactions outside the school to be negative.

42. Perceptions on Inter-Gender Communication • Adolescents have a positive attitude towards inter-gender interaction but it does not get reflected in their actions Parents, especially fathers displayed a negative attitude towards interaction between girls and boys outside class. • Boys and girls don’t sit together in class. Government school teachers are strict upholders of social norms. Seating arrangements are segregated.

43. Less Access of mobile phones for girls as compared to boys. Limited usage of mobile phones for girls is regulated under the control of parents.

44. Voices from the Field • “Ladki se baatbhikar li tohanpadhmaabaapgalatmatlabnikaaltehainaurdaantdetehain”. • Boys FGD, Rampur Behera • “Humme mobile phone chahiye hi nahin, achahaikina mile. Padhainahihopati” -Girls FGD, Paharpur Village, Lucknow • “Zamaanakharaabhai, binasambandhke koi baatnahikarta”, • “ladkaladki agar aapas main baatkarengetohunke beech pyaarhojatahai” -Mothers in Gorakhpur • “Jaankaarilenapadtahai. Ladki se poochtehainkahaan se phone aaya, kiska phone aaya.” -A father in Siddharthnagar • Teacher boltehainkibaatkarnihaitohbaharnikaljao. Sarkari school meinladka-ladkikabaatcheetkarnagalatsamajhtehaintoh mana kartehain, pitaibhihojaatihailadkonkiaurladkikodaantdenge.. Samaaj wale saathmeindekh le tohbohot pooch-taachkarnelagtehain, galatsamajhtehain.” - A boy in Varanasi

45. Attitude Towards Girls

46. Attitude towards girls 51.1% Girls Agree 82.4% Girls Agree A girl may not be allowed to go alone/with peers outside as it is inappropriate for a girl to go alone/ peers in our community A girl must do household chores as she needs to learn that before going to in-law's place 72.9% Boys Agree 57.1% Boys Agree 50.1% Girls Agree A girl cannot say when she wants to get married because the elders know best 67.4% Girls Agree A girl may not be allowed to use mobile phones as it increases the chances of her getting spoilt 62.4% Boys Agree 65.1% Boys Agree A boy does not need to help in domestic chores like cleaning, washing utensils, cooking etc. because it is a girl's job/duty A girl doesn't need as much leisure time as boys do 45.0% Girls Agree 63.4% Girls Agree 42.4% Boys Agree 57.4% Boys Agree

47. Summary of Attitudinal Findings • There exists a largely accepted gendered division of labour, whereby household chores are seen as a girl’s duty. • Adolescents seem to have internalized the social norm that elders know best and therefore are often not able to negotiate their own life choices. • There is a largely divided opinion regarding the mobility of girls. Some adhere to the society’s beliefs and justifications but many want to break away from such restrictions. • Majority of adolescents, both boys and girls, did not believe that marriage ensures safety for girls. However, more than 50% of adolescents displayed a negative attitude towards a girl’s mobility. Voices from the field… Girls: “Ladkiyamazboothotihailekinunkodabaadiyajaatahai”. Boys: "Baatcheetkarnemeinachhi ho. Seedhetarahbaatkartihobina dare." “Talented, padhnemeintez, behaviorachaho, bolnekadhang, bade chottekalihaazkartiho, kaamkarnemeintheek ho.” “Padhnelikhnemeintez, kaamkarnemeinaageho, rahansahanacha ho. Sidhanagar Mothers: “Agar ekladkigharkesaarebojhuthapaetabhi who mazboothai.” “A strong girl must work hard and help their mothers with all their chores.” Fathers: “Jo gharkekaamachhe se kare, padhailikhaizyaadaho, gharaursamajkiizzataurmaryadakartiho”. Parivarkapalankare, bade chottokakhayalrakhe, padhilikhiho, baatcheetkar sake.‘ “Uskepaashimmathonichahiye, mehnatkakaamkartiho, apnabachawkhudkarsaktiho, galatkaamkavirodhkar sake.” Community members: Bol-chaal, tezhojawab dene mein, ashikshitbhisakshamhosaktihain, kaamkaajmein, doosrokosahirastadikhayegi, mata pita kobhisakshambanarahihai" What they say makes a “strong girl”…

48. The Idea of a Strong Girl

49. Participants’ Perspectives on what needs to be done… • Girls need to be given support and freedom from their parents so that they are able to receive education as well as exposure. • Parents should provide positive examples and role models rather than referring to negative examples and distrusting their own daughters and fearing negative outcomes, thereby restricting their mobility • Girls should be protected and encouraged • Should be provided education • Should be kept in discipline and made to understand social norms • Girls should be given same opportunities and facilities as boys • Should not be suppressed • Must educate the girls • Must teach them social and practical skills along with academic education

50. Health