Abstract:

Background:
Gender norms (GN) consist on roles, characteristics and opportunities defined by society and reaffirmed by the education system, which are considered appropriate for men, women, boys, girls and people with non-binary identities. Gender as a product of interpersonal relationships can establish and reflect a distribution of power that changes with time and place. When people or groups do not conform to norms (including the concepts of masculinity or femininity), gender roles, responsibilities or relationships are often subject to stigmatization, social exclusion and discrimination, all of which can negatively affect The development of people.

Objective:
To describe gender norms in school adolescents 10 to 14 years of age and their relationship with perceptions and behaviors about sexuality and reproduction.

Population and method:
A cross-sectional study was conducted, through a self-administered electronic survey, with prior assent and informed consent. 704 adolescents between 10 and 14 years of age, of low socioeconomic conditions, belonging to 7 of 70 primary schools in the city of Cuenca in Ecuador, randomly selected. The variables analyzed were: sociodemographic characteristics, gender norms, and perceptions about sexuality and reproduction (PSR). The analysis of the qualitative variables was performed with frequencies and percentages and the quantitative variables with the mean and standard deviation. To establish association between variables, Chi square was used (p <0.05)

Results:
The participants had an average age of 12 years (SD of 1.34 for men and 1.38 for women), 80% identified themselves as mestizos, most said they were Catholics, live with both parents and have between 1 and 2 brothers of both sexes.

Regarding gender norms, there are significant differences between girls and boys. Boys should always defend themselves, even if that means fighting (p <0.001), it is important that boys show that they are hard even if they are nervous inside (p <0.05), boys who behave like girls are considered weak (p <0.05), girls should avoid raising their voices to be like a lady (p <0.05), girls need the protection of their parents more than boys (p <0.01), a man must have the last word about decisions at home (p <0.001), boys and girls should be equally responsible for housework (p <0.001), men should be the ones who bring money home, not women (p <0.01), and it's okay to disturb a boy who acts like a girl (p <0.01).

Perceptions and attitudes related to sexuality and reproduction that were found to be significantly associated with gender norms were: a girl can use infusions to prevent pregnancy (p <0.001). I know where to go, if I need to get contraceptives (p <0.05). It is the girl's responsibility to prevent pregnancy (p <0.001). Girls who carry condoms are “easy” (p <0.001). A real man must have as many female partners as he can (p <0.001).

Conclusions:
Gender norms that manifest themselves at an early stage of adolescence and are strengthened by the educational system, negatively influence perceptions and attitudes related to sexuality and reproduction.

Keywords:

Adolescents, Gender norms, Hidden Curriculum, Sexual and reproductive health.