Since 2007, our qualitative Real Choices, Real Lives Cohort Study has been tracking the lives of over 120 girls across nine countries, providing insights into the choices, decisions and realities that shape girls’ lives as they grow up in a gendered world.

In 2019, in the first of a three-part series of regionally-focused reports, we draw from in-depth analysis of 37 girls going through early adolescence in the three Sub-Saharan African Cohort countries: Benin, Togo, and Uganda.

Our analysis shows that in these countries, all 37 Cohort girls are noticing, questioning, or rejecting expectations around their behaviour and roles in at least one area of their lives. This ranges from views about household work and division of responsibilities, through to what is considered acceptable female behaviour and future aspirations.