Social Norms Chat
Social Norms Chat
Podcast Description
Social Norms Chat is a podcast for practitioners, funders, and changemakers eager to explore how social norms shape behaviors—and how they can be shifted to drive meaningful change. Hosted by Cäcilia Riederer from TransformNorms and featuring Sohail Agha, senior advisor at Global Health Visions, this podcast unpacks key concepts like aspiration vs. behavior, gender norms, and the power of reference groups.Through thematic deep dives on topics like mental health, violence, and gender dynamics, we blend research, case studies, and expert insights to uncover what works (and what doesn’t) in fostering deep normative change. With special guests and real-world examples, we provide actionable strategies for those working in policy, advocacy, and community development.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as mental health, gender dynamics, and violence, with episodes diving into topics like the influence of aspiration vs. behavior and the role of reference groups in shaping societal expectations, providing listeners with actionable insights backed by research and case studies.
Social Norms Chat is a podcast for practitioners, funders, and changemakers eager to explore how social norms shape behaviors, how they can be shifted to drive meaningful change and how this translates into practice. Hosted by Cäcilia Riederer from TransformNorms this podcast goes through thematic deep dives on topics like mental health, violence, and gender dynamics, we blend research, case studies, and expert insights to uncover what works (and what doesn’t) in fostering deep normative change. With special guests and real-world examples, we provide actionable strategies for those working in policy, advocacy, and community development.
What comes first—laws or social change?
In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia sits down with Julie Thekkudan, Regional Representative for Equality Now in South Asia, to explore the powerful and often complex interplay between social norms, legal reform, and justice systems.
Julie shares her personal journey into women’s rights advocacy, beginning with childhood observations that sparked a lifelong commitment to equality. Together, they unpack how patriarchal norms, biases in law enforcement, and deep-rooted societal attitudes affect survivors of gender-based violence, and how collaborative regional initiatives like Samaj (South Asian Movement for Accessing Justice) are striving to change that.
This conversation shines a light on both the barriers and breakthroughs in advancing gender equality across South Asia, offering inspiration for advocates and policymakers around the world.
Our Recommendation:
Theory and practice of social norms interventions: eight common
pitfalls – Beniamino Cislaghi and Lori Heise
The paper highlights eight common pitfalls in social norms interventions, offering
guidance on avoiding these challenges to effectively promote health and behavior
change in low- and middle-income countries.
Julie's Recommendations:
Unbelievable – a series exploring the challenges survivors face in seeking justice
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – a thought-provoking look at gender and power
📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit
Follow us on LinkedIn – and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!
Executive producer and host: Cäcilia Riederer
Special guest: Julie Thekkudan
Producer and writer: Dora Ehrlich
Editor: Tabusum Akter
Special thanks to Aakansha Saxena and Bryna Subherwal for their support in making this episode happen.
Disclaimer
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