Expressive Power of Anti-Violence Legislation: Changes in Social Norms on Violence Against Women in Mexico

Presenter: Mala Htun, Professor of Political Science at the University of New Mexico

Article: Expressive Power of Anti-Violence Legislation: Changes in Social Norms on Violence Against Women in Mexico

While a significant amount of research has examined the conditions giving rise to legal and policy reform on violence against women (VAW), there is less understanding of whether or not new VAW laws have been accompanied by changes in behavior and attitudes. Has the adoption of VAW legislation—a huge priority of feminist movements since the 1970s—produced social change? This paper presents evidence for a cautiously optimistic assessment of the power of VAW laws to alter social norms, based on analysis of four waves of survey data from Mexico.