This brief highlights some of the ways in which positive youth development (PYD) programs are addressing the impacts of gender inequalities and restrictive gender norms on young people. It uses the YouthPower Learning Grants as a diverse sample of initiatives that have revealed insightful lessons about where gender and PYD intersect, and what to do about it.

Using the four domains of PYD along with an analysis of some of the primary characteristics of gender transformative approaches, the brief presents six lessons for potential gender transformative PYD programming, along with corresponding recommendations. 

Lessons for gender transformative PYD programming 

1.   PYD program staff and gatekeepers harbor gender norms and biases that affect boys’ and girls’ participation in activities.

2.    Both boys and girls internalize gender norms in ways that can hinder their own development and opportunities for the future.

3.    Gender-based violence is a prevalent and pervasive factor in the lives of young people

4.    Addressing gender equality gaps in leadership by directly funding young women-led, community-based initiatives is a gender transformative practice. 

5.    Gender norms and inequalities affect the accuracy of PYD data collection for monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.

6.    In theory, gender transformative approaches are based on a non-binary understanding of gender and sexuality; however, this is still not commonly applied in practice.