The Girl Effect: What Do Boys Have to Do with it?

Many researchers and programmers are exploring opportunities to work with girls and boys to overcome discrimination and build a more gender-equitable world. This paper argues for a gender and developmental perspective to explore "what boys have to do with the 'girls effect.'" This approach seeks to better understand gendered behavior in adolescents over their life cycle. Such a perspective can be used to develop programs and undertake policy efforts to promote equitable and healthy gender identities and norms with benefits for both girls and boys (2010).