With about half of all new HIV infections and at least one-third of all new sexually transmitted infections occurring to people under age 25, and with 42 percent of young women in the developing world giving birth by the age of 20, efforts to protect and inform youth must take place on a large scale. As with adults, gender norms greatly influence young people's attitudes and behaviors, and access to and use of information and services. Moreover, the social and developmental consequences of young people's reproductive decisions can have an effect on the rest of their lives.
Girls are particularly vulnerable to reproductive health problems for both biological and social reasons, and often have little say over the conditions of sexual relations and childbearing, whether they take place within marriage or outside it. Boys, however, are also at risk, either by complying with expected gender norms that encourage high-risk sexual behavior, or by stepping outside of those norms.
Key themes of interest to the IGWG:
- Child marriage.
- Cross-generational sex.
- Fostering a gender perspective in sex education and life skills programs.
- Gender socialization of boys and girls.
- Generational influences and relationships.
- Abstinence, delay of sexual debut, and safer sex.
- Dual protection.
Youth and Gender Activities Sponsored and Funded by the IGWG
Combating Cross-Generational Sex in Uganda
Cross-generational sex—often known as Sugar Daddy syndrome—is a pattern of sexual behavior between young women and much older men that brings increased health risks and consequences for the young women. While few large-scale interventions have been undertaken to combat this risky behavior, and even fewer have been evaluated, an important collaboration in Uganda between the government, local organizations, and USAID may be leading the way. (March 2009)
Cross-Generational Sex: Risks and Opportunities (PDF: 396KB)
This new policy brief has been produced collaboratively by the Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG) and the Interagency Youth Working Group (IYWG). It defines cross-generational sex, summarizes where it occurs, outlines the motivations behind the behavior, and recommends actions for policymakers and program managers. This brief builds on a lengthier publication, Addressing Cross-Generational Sex: A Desk Review of Research and Programs (PDF: 800KB), produced in August 2007. (August 2008)
New Insights on Preventing Child Marriage: A Global Analysis of Factors and Programs (PDF: 1.2MB)
A new study conducted by ICRW for the IGWG found that key factors such as girls’ education, spousal age gap, and poverty strongly determine whether girls in the developing world will become child brides. (April 2007)
Addressing Cross-Generational Sex: A Desk Review of Research and Programs (PDF: 800KB)
This publication, produced by the IGWG and the Interagency Youth Working Group (IYWG), presents definitions and prevalence of cross-generational sex, explores interventions and promising practices aimed at reducing risks associated with cross-generational sex outside of marriage, and makes recommendations for next steps. (August 2007)
IGWG Technical Update on Child Marriage
IGWG Technical Update on child marriage and its negative implications for public health and human rights was held in Washington D.C. in July 2006. Speakers included representatives from Tostan (Senegal), the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, and BRAC (Bangladesh). Over 100 participants heard the results and the review commissioned by IGWG and by ICRW and successful interventions in the field. The agenda, participant list, speaker bios, and PowerPoint presentations are included.
Do Empowered Mothers Foster Gender Equity and Better Reproductive Health in the Next Generation? A Qualitative Analysis from Rural Bangladesh (PDF: 69KB)
This six-page policy brief investigates whether empowered mothers and mothers-in-law are more likely to promote better reproductive health and positive gender norms among married daughters and daughters-in-law in the next generation. The brief, based on a study funded in part by an IGWG small grant, includes recommendations for making policies and programs more effective in supporting women's empowerment. (January 2005)