10 Gender Assumptions For a Theory of Change

Creating a Theory of Change (ToC) is like sketching a blueprint for a house—you need to anticipate the foundation's stability, the placement of key structures, and the environment it will thrive in. When it comes to projects, the “blueprint” must be inclusive, thoughtful, and aware of the assumptions that shape gender norms and realities.

Here’s 10 critical gender-related assumptions to help you shape a more inclusive Theory of Change.

1. Gender Roles and Norms

We often hear the phrase, “That’s just how it’s always been,” when discussing gender roles. Social and cultural norms dictate what’s “appropriate” for men, women, and gender-diverse individuals, often limiting opportunities.

For example, in a rural farming community, women might be expected to focus solely on household duties while men engage in income-generating activities.

• Tip -Challenge these norms by including community dialogues in your interventions to shift perspectives on roles and responsibilities.

2. Access to Resources and Services

Assumption: Men and women have the same access to education, healthcare, and financial services. Spoiler: They don’t.

Women in some regions struggle to get loans because they don’t own land to use as collateral.

• Tip - Your ToC should include strategies like partnerships with microfinance institutions that offer collateral-free loans to women.

3. Power Dynamics and Decision-Making

Who holds the mic at the dinner table? Power imbalances exist in households, communities, and workplaces, often sidelining women and marginalised genders.

Women in agricultural cooperatives may grow most of the crops but are excluded from meetings that set prices.

• Tip - Design programmes that ensure equitable representation in decision-making spaces, like using quotas or leadership training for women.

4. Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Violence is an invisible fence that keeps many women and gender-diverse individuals from moving freely, speaking up, or accessing opportunities. For example, in urban areas, fear of harassment might prevent women from attending night classes or job training.

• Tip - Incorporate safety measures, such as providing transportation or sensitization campaigns addressing GBV, into your ToC.

5. Education and Skills Development

Education opens doors, but for many girls and women, those doors are blocked by societal expectations, financial barriers, or even unsafe environments.

In some arears, a school’s lack of sanitary facilities for girls might lead to high dropout rates during puberty.

• Tip - Address these barriers explicitly in your project design, such as budgeting for menstrual hygiene resources or safe school programs.

6. Health Disparities

Access to healthcare isn’t just about proximity—it’s about autonomy. Gender norms often dictate who seeks care and when. In many households, women prioritise children’s or their spouse’s health over their own.

• Tip - Develop interventions that empower women to make healthcare decisions, such as community health training or mobile clinics with women health workers.

7. Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods

Unpaid care work, wage gaps, and limited access to productive assets are just the tip of the iceberg. Women working in informal sectors may not have access to pensions or social protection.

• Tip - Include pathways for women’s economic empowerment, such as entrepreneurship training and support for childcare services.

8. Participation and Leadership

Leadership isn’t a boys’ club—though it often feels like one. Women and gender-diverse individuals are frequently underrepresented in decision-making roles.

For example, women in local councils may hold “token” roles without real influence.

• Tip - Support leadership pipelines for women by offering mentorship programs and public speaking workshops.

9. Legal and Policy Barriers

Laws that are supposed to protect can sometimes perpetuate inequality due to bias or lack of enforcement. For example, a law might require joint property ownership, but societal norms may prevent women from registering their names on deeds.

• Tip - Advocate for policy reforms while also providing legal literacy training to empower affected groups.

10. Intersectionality and Marginalisation

Gender isn’t the only identity that shapes experience—age, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status compound inequalities. An older woman from a marginalised ethnic group may face triple discrimination in accessing healthcare.

• Tip - Adopt an intersectional lens by collecting disaggregated data and tailoring interventions to meet the needs of multiple marginalized groups.

Making It All Work

Crafting a gender-responsive Theory of Change means going beyond assumptions—it’s about questioning them, validating them through research, and adapting based on feedback.

Here are some bonus tips:

• Test assumptions with pilot projects before scaling interventions.
• Partner with gender experts, community members, and local organizations.
• Build in mechanisms to track gender-related outcomes and adjust strategies as needed.

By addressing these gender assumptions head-on, your Theory of Change will be more inclusive, practical, and impactful.

Join the webinar on gender-responsive Theories of Change to learn more. https://www.annmurraybrown.com/single-post/webinarongenderresponsivetheoriesofchange ?