Through interviews with 60 women from six countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Tunisia), this study seeks to analyse and understand how prevailing social norms contribute to and perpetuate violence against women and girls.
Through exploring norms around decency, modesty and respect, and how they are used to control and regulate women’s dress and appearance, the paper investigates the normalization of violence as a means of disciplining and oppressing women and girls.