When Norms Collide : Local Responses to Activism Against Female Genital Mutilation and Early Marriage

Many transnational campaigns, and particularly the transnational campaign on violence against women, promote international norms that target the behavior of local nonstate actors. But these international norms are often at odds with local practices. What happens when the international and local norms collide? When does transnational activism lead individuals and communities to abandon local norms and embrace international ones? In When Norms Collide , Karisa Cloward presents a path-breaking theoretical framework for understanding the processes by which individuals negotiate competing demands placed on them by international and local norms. Drawing on extensive fieldwork with local communities in Kenya, she applies the theory to the practices of female genital mutilation and early marriage. Cloward argues that, when faced with international normative messages, individuals can decide to change their attitudes, their behavior, and the public image they present to international and local audiences. Moreover, the impact of transnational activism on individuals substantially depends on the salience of the international and local norms to their respective proponents, as well as on community-level factors. Karisa Cloward Presents A Theoretical Framework For Understanding The Range Of Local-level Responses To International Norm Promotion And Applies This Framework To The Issues Of Female Genital Mutilation (fgm) And Early Marriage. Cloward Argues That, Conditional On Exposure To An International Normative Message, Individuals Can Decide To Change Their Attitudes, Their Actual Behaviour, And The Public Image They Present To International And Local Audiences. She Finds That The Impact Of Transnational Activism On Individual Decision-making Substantially Depends On The Salience Of The International And Local Norms To Their Respective Proponents, As Well As On Community-level Factors Such As The Density Of Ngo Activity And The Availability Of An Exit Option From The Local Norm. A Theory Of Local-level Responses To International Norm Promotion -- Fgm And Early Marriage In Kenya -- Creating Local Awareness Of International Norms -- Fostering Local Attitude Change -- Facilitating Local Primary Behavior Change -- Explaining Local Misrepresentation Of Normative Commitments. Karisa Cloward. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 When Norms Collide......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures and Tables......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1. Introduction......Page 18 2. A Theory of Local-Level Responses to International Norm Promotion......Page 70 3. FGM and Early Marriage in Kenya......Page 114 4. Creating Local Awareness of International Norms......Page 152 5. Fostering Local Attitude Change......Page 172 6. Facilitating Local Primary Behavior Change......Page 190 7. Explaining Local Misrepresentation of Normative Commitments......Page 222 8. Conclusion......Page 245 Methodological Appendix......Page 274 Bibliography......Page 304 Index......Page 324 When Norms Collide examines the conditions under which transnational activism leads individuals and communities to abandon local norms and embrace international ones. It investigates the local dynamics of norm conflicts around female genital mutilation and early marriage.