A Girl Can Dream: Analyzing Aspirations, Gender Norms, and Influencers Among Girls and Women in Mozambique

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This research note A Girl Can Dream: Analyzing Aspirations, Gender Norms, and Influencers Among Girls and Women in Mozambique (in Portuguese) explores the hopes and ambitions of adolescent girls and young women in Mozambique. It delves into the barriers girls and women face in pursuing their dreams and the social norms and relationships that shape their life choices. By listening directly to their voices, the study offers a grounded understanding of how to design more effective gender equality programs.

The research was conducted across 60 communities in Mozambique and draws insights from over 1,150 girls and young women from vulnerable households, as well as 300 community stakeholders. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative interventions, the study captures both the aspirations and realities of young women's lives.

Mozambican girls face a complex web of challenges: low school completion rates, early marriage and pregnancy, limited access to quality jobs, and entrenched gender norms. While many programs are working to address these issues, efforts remain fragmented and unevenly distributed. This research provides a roadmap for more targeted, effective interventions.

Findings reveal that most girls dream of completing secondary school and some aspire to attend university. Yet, these dreams are often stifled by financial hardship, lack of support, and restrictive gender norms. Programs that aim to improve education outcomes must go beyond access-they must also nurture ambition, build confidence, and involve families and communities in the process.

Personal Gender Attitudes - Rural vs Urban Areas

Employment aspirations are also misaligned with market realities. Many young women hope to work in the education or health sector, but these sectors often cannot absorb all the demand. Few consider roles in higher-paying, male-dominated sectors like manufacturing or technology. Targeted career guidance, exposure to diverse job paths, and entrepreneurship support may help to bridge this gap.

Traditional gender roles remain a powerful force. Many girls believe that men should have more rights and resources, and that certain jobs are not appropriate for women. These beliefs are often internalized and reinforced by family and community expectations. Yet, the study also finds that communities are more supportive of gender equality than girls assume. Correcting these misperceptions could unlock new opportunities for empowerment.

Family members-especially mothers, fathers, and spouses-play a central role in shaping girls' decisions in Mozambique. For some girls, they can be powerful allies, but for others significant gatekeepers. Empowerment programs must engage these key figures within the family, helping them become champions of change.

Some of the most compelling insights include:

• 90% of girls aspire to complete secondary school or higher, but only a fraction achieve this goal.
• 95% of rural girls and women are unable to achieve their desired education level, compared to 85% in urban areas.
• 58% of girls dream about jobs in education, health, or public services.
• 80% cite financial constraints as the main barrier to education.
• Mothers are the most influential figures for unmarried girls, both as champions and gatekeepers.
• Many girls underestimate how supportive their communities actually are toward gender equality.

This note is part of a series of country notes that were produced by the East Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) Evidence Hub. EAGER is a World Bank regional program aiming to increase girls' and women's educational attainment, labor earnings, and decision-making power in East and Southern Africa, and the Evidence Hub seeks to generate new evidence on what works to support girls' and women's empowerment and promote knowledge sharing in support of the EAGER program.