Real Choices, Real Lives
REAL CHOICES, REAL LIVES
We’re following the lives of 142 girls living in poverty in nine countries, across three continents, over their first 18 years. We explore the detailed experiences of these girls and their families. This includes the voices of the girls themselves – they describe their hopes and dreams and their daily realities.
The study provides genuine insight into the way family and community shape girls’ expectations of what they can do, and be, right from the very beginning. Our research helps to put a human face on the available statistics, theories and academic discussions.
This work helps to further our understanding of girls’ lives and the factors that support and impinge them. We use our evidence to support our policy work and in the future it will inform our programming.
All 118 girls have noticed
that there are different rules for girls and boys in their communities
Girls in all 9 countries report
experiencing or witnessing the use of corporal punishment
As the girls turn 13, many find
their movement and access to spaces increasingly restricted
Girls challenging the gender rules
In 2019, we look at how and why girls ‘accept’ or ‘disrupt’ gender norms.
Girls’ burden of unpaid care
In 2018, we look at how the increasing burden of unpaid care affects the lives of the girls.
Violence in girls' daily lives
In 2017 we look specifically at the experiences of violence among the girls and their families taking part in
The first 10 years: 9 girls' lives from around the world
Here, nine girls, from across the world tell us about their daily lives
Latest blogs
Find out more about our research
We work across policy advocacy and research to make sure girls' voices are heard.