Production of a research study on social norms and perceptions on women dressing codes and discrimination against women and girls in the MENA region.

 

RFQ-MENRP-21-0011

research on the relationship between social norms and perceptions on dress codes and practicies and Violence and discrimnation against women in the MENA region

 

 

Assignment:

 

Production of a research study on social norms and perceptions on women dressing codes and discrimination against women and girls in the MENA region.

Timeline:

1/November/2021 to 28/February/2022.

Location:

Regional with a focus on Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia.

 

 

 Background

 

Harmful social norms sustain, normalize, justify and legitimize violence against women and girls (Butt et al, 2020[1]; Stark & Seff, 2021)[2]. These norms are based on notions of women’s sexual purity, protecting family honor over women’s safety, women’s limited presence in the public sphere, and men’s authority to discipline and punish women[3] (Perrin et al, 2019). One particular set of norms that sustain violence against women are those associated with women’s dress codes and practices. Sexual harassment and violence occur worldwide regardless of what the women wear. All types of sexual harassment and abuse including sexual abuse and rape, can be blamed on women who are judged as “deserving” of this harm because of what they wear or how they appear. The cliché question “What was she wearing during the incident?” is a globally known technique that blames violence survivors and assumes responsibility of women for provoking men.     

Women dress codes are part of social norms that are monitored by other members of the community including women. Generally, women are made aware of their bodies and that they need to conform to clothing standards that their male counterparts find unprovocative at a very early age (Wah, 2016; and Jaymie, 2017)[4]. A Perception survey by Muzaffar and his team (2020) confirms that women’s clothes are considered a factor when males commit a sexual assault according to Indian university students [5]. Another study by Burn (2009) concluded that authorities place greater responsibility on women victims of sexual assaults if their clothing were seen as provocative[6]. 

Furthermore, social norms and perceptions may attribute some personality treats to women based on their dress codes and appearances. In a 2018 study by Gurung and his team found that women who wear “less revealing” clothes were described as more intelligent, more responsible, and more competent than the same women wearing “revealing clothes”[7]. Women who do not meet the expectations or social norms of clothing can be punished or disciplined or blamed for the violence they face (Brower, 2013)[8]. The norms around dress codes practiced in public spheres might as well serve as proxies for discrimination based on race, gender, or any other background [9] (McKay-Panos, 2004)

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), violence against women is estimated at 37% of women in comparison to the global rate of 30% (UN Women 2020). One type of violence is associated with what women should or shouldn’t wear. Women dress codes are highly politicized issue in the MENA region with contradictory discourses There are multiple forms of patriarchal violence and discrimination against women based on their choices of clothes in the MENA region. For instance, Egyptian women were prevented from accessing public recreational facilities because they do not wear “swimming suits” and instead wear “Islamic Burkinis” that cover the entire body and head. This debate reached courts[10] and there are deliberations whether it is constitutional or not to deny these women access to pools and some beaches. Furthermore, men are expected to “correct and control” women dressing codes.

 In a study by the Oxfam on the Moroccan society in 2019, a majority of 78% of respondents agreed that a husband can force his wife to change her dressing practices[11]. The study found that 64% of men believed that women should wear a modest style of clothes, while only 36% of women agreed with that statement.  The same study also indicated that verbal types of violence against women are not considered worthy of intervention by bystanders, only physical violence is. However, 73% of men considered that they would only intervene if the women’s clothes were respectful. Thus, women who do not adhere with what is “considered” respectful, are not worthy of “patriarchal” protection.

There is a range of emotional, psychological, physical and sexual violence that women in the MENA region are challenged with in their everyday lives and everywhere they are. This violence stems from harmful social norms that justify, excuse, and normalize violence against women based on their dress codes. These norms are challenged by Oxfam’s global Enough! Campaign. The Campaign aims to challenge harmful social norms and replace them with positive norms based on gender justice and women’s empowerment. Enough brings people of all genders, ages, race and background together to transform social normal and challenge the status quo. Activities under the campaign includes social media activities, art, music, animated films, workshops, factsheets, aspirational messages to encourage change and motivate people to think, talk and act to end all violence against women. MENA platform intends to further explore and understand the different aspects of the social norms associated with women dress codes and practices to inform its campaigning and influencing activities. This study terms of reference (ToR) is designed to solicit and commission a quantitative study that shed the light on this understudied phenomenon in the MENA region.

Purpose and scope of the Assigment

 

Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Platform seeks to hire a research company/consultant to conduct survey research to identify social norms associated with women’s dress codes and practices and violence and discrimination against women associated with these norms. The purpose is to contribute to understanding of the different forms of violence and discrimination faced by girls and women in the MENA region and thus to better inform and guide Oxfam’s advocacy and influencing activities in the region.

More specifically, the study aims to:

• explore and identify social norms associated with women dress codes and practices in six targeted countries in the MENA region
• identify common social norms across countries
• assess the influence and of impact these norms on violence and discrimination against women
• provide policy recommendations
• on main thematic issues related to dress codes social norms and violence against women.   
• identifying main research patterns as well as main data gaps for future research.

methodlogy and targeted population  

 

The main research questions for this research study

• What are the main social norms (positive and harmful) and perceptions on women dressing codes and practices in the six selected countries in the MENA region?
• How do people in the MENA, especially youth perceive the relationship between dress codes and violence against women?
• What are the main differences and similarities between the six different countries? 

The applicant is encouraged to elaborate on these questions and provide additional sub-questions in their application:

The proposed methodology needs to consider:

• adequately combines a qualitative method (literature review, focus group discussions, case studies,…) with a quantitative method (survey) to generate primary (quantitative and qualitative) data on the research topic.  
• targeted population is youth of different sexes between the ages of 18-35 in urban, rural and refugee settings. 

 

Deliverables

 

• An inception report:  Recognize and identify main trends and patterns on social norms and violence against women and girls based on secondary data from existing literature. The inception report should include contextual background on contexts, literature review on main research data on the subject and its main patterns, research and data gaps, detailed methodology, sampling method and samples size, proposed primary data collection method questions and survey structure. 
• Final research report that contains an executive summary of the main findings, methodological approach and, a detailed section on the methodological approach, an extended section on the literature review conducted on Arabic, English and French. Main findings and analysis, discussion of findings and conclusions and annexes.

Detailed guidelines for the inception and final reports will be provided upon contracting.

 

 

application process and selction creiteria

 

Interested applicants, individual consultants and researchers or consultancy firms, can apply to this call. Successful applicant should at least have the following skills and competencies:

• Proven record of conducting research on women and girls’ rights, violence against women and girls, and social norms and perceptions.
• Proven record of conducting survey in the targeted countries.
• Ability to adapt data collection methodologies to situations related to COVID-19 without jeopardizing the health and safety of survey population.

 

Interested applicants are invited to submit an expression of interest letter which include:

1. A cover letter of introduction for the consultant(s) or firm. 
2. Technical offer including how the applicant would tackle the research projects in terms of approach and methodology, number of days, time frame and action plan for the research, daily rates, research team size and expertise (if applicable) and any other logistic or ethical consideration.
3. Financial offer that includes a detailed budget.
4. Previous published examples of similar work.

 

Selection Criteria:

Oxfam’s MENA platform expects to receive clear and solid technical and financial proposals. 70% of the weight will be given to the technical proposal and 30% will be given to the financial proposal.

The applicant must score minimum of 50% in the technical evaluation to be eligible for financial evaluation. 

how to apply

• Interested candidates (individuals or companies) should send the comprehensive proposal describing /articulating the work requirements outlined in this ToR to :

 

Jordan_Procurement@oxfam.org.uk

 

•  The proposal should include 2 (two) Separate documents:
• a) Technical Proposal 
• b) Financial proposal

 

Your financial and technical proposal should be valid for 90 days

 

 

Financial proposal :Financial offer must  include all costs, in Jordanian Dinars (JOD), inclusive 5% income tax for Jordanians, and 10 % income tax for internationals

 

This TOR , attached RFQ  and any related Documents should be officially stamped and signed .

 

 

 

submission and clarification process

Interested candidates should submit their Technical & Financial Proposals separately to the below mentioned email, indicating the subject: social norms and perceptions on dress codes” RFQ-MENRP-21-0011 [Deadline: November 10h, 2021- 17:00 PM Amman time]: (Jordan_Procurement@oxfam.org.uk)

 

 

 

[1] Butt et al (2020) Integrating a Social Norm Perspective to Address Community Violence Against Sri Lankan Women and Girls: A Call for Research and Practice. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. 29(7) PP826-834.

[2] Stark, L and Seff, I (2021) The Role of Social Norms, Violence Against Women and Measurement in the Global Commitment to End Violence Against Children. Peace & Conflict. Vol.27, Issue 1, PP24-27.

[3] Perrin, N. et el (2019) Social Norms and Beliefs about Gender Based Violence Scale. Conflict and Health volume 13, Article number: 6

[4] Wah, S. (2016). Boys will be boys, and girls will get raped: How public school dress

codes foster modern day rape culture. Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender, 23(1),

245-276. and Thesis Jaymie, A (M.A., Education (Behavioral Science Gender Equity Studies))--California State University, Sacramento, 2017

[5] Muzaffar et al (2020) Perception of Students Regarding Gender based Violence. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. Vol.14, issue 1, PP 113-117. 

[6] Burn, S.M. (2009) A Situational Model of Sexual Assault Prevention through Bystander Intervention. Sex Roles 60, 779–792 (2009

[7] Gurung, R et al, (2018) Dressing “in Code”: Clothing rules, propriety, and perceptions. The Journal of Social Psychology. Vol.158 (5)PP 553-557.

[8] Brower, T (2013) What's in the closet: dress and appearance codes and lessons from sexual orientation. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Vol 32, Issue.5

[9] McKay-Panos, L. (2004). Gender discrimination in the workplace: Dress codes. LawNow, 29(3), [69]-[71].

[10] Here

[11] Violence against women in Morocco: between patriarchy and institutional limits, Rabat Social Studies Institute (RSSI) and Oxfam in Morocco, 2019