Harmful gender norms, biases, prejudices, myths and stereotypes are all manifestations of gender-based discrimination. Although they are closely linked and all contribute to gender inequality, these concepts refer to distinct realities.

Gender norm: Gender norms are a subset of "social norms", a set of rules and "informal, deeply entrenched and widely held beliefs about gender roles, power relations, standards or expectations that govern human behaviours and practices in a particular social context and at a particular time" [1]. Such norms are "influenced by our beliefs, economic and political circumstances, and sometimes the rewards and sanctions we expect for adhering to or disobeying them" [2]. They inevitably lead to a hierarchy between the genders and, consequently, to systemic inequalities. They influence both "people’s behaviours [and] institutions, including… policies (e.g. discriminatory fiscal measures, family laws including marriage and divorce, labour laws), the education and religious systems, sectoral services, traditional institutions (e.g. chiefs’ courts), the media, and the labour market" [3].

Gender bias or prejudice: Gender bias or prejudice refers to differential treatment and perception (through actions or attitudes) between genders, primarily between women and men, and generally entails inequality in enjoyment of rights, in both the public and private spheres [4]. Bias may be intentional or unconscious [5].

In the world of work, such bias may restrict access to professions, hinder career progression or result in pay gaps. In many countries, women are excluded from certain sectors of activity for reasons unrelated to their skills or professional qualifications. According to ADC Memorial, an FIDH member organisation in Russia: "Laws in Belarus, Russia, and Tajikistan still ban women from hundreds of professions, including high-paying and prestigious ones" [6]. These restrictions also affect many jobs in agriculture, transport, and the production of materials such as wood or leather [7].

Gender myth: Gender myths are erroneous but widely held beliefs that serve to justify or minimise discrimination and violence. For example, the myth that when a woman says "no" she actually means "yes" contributes to the normalisation of sexual violence and to calling into question the principle of victims’ consent [8]. In 2005, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ) developed the "MIVSEP" framework (Myth, Implication, Value Statement, Effect, Patterns), an analytical tool designed to examine how myths operate and their consequences [9].

Gender stereotype: A gender stereotype is a "generalised view or preconception about attributes or characteristics, or the roles that are or ought to be possessed by, or performed by" individuals or groups based on their gender or presumed gender [10]. It often rests on a rigid, binary conception of gender, centred on femininity and masculinity [11]. Gender stereotypes shape and influence all societies and individuals. They are deeply embedded in patriarchal culture and in the structural inequalities affecting women and LGBTQIA+ persons [12] across social institutions in the broad sense.

Gender stereotypes contribute to the lack of recognition and criminalisation of certain forms of violence and, by extension, to impunity for perpetrators. This is particularly the case, for example, where stereotypes rooted in long-standing traditions equate women with their husbands’ property after marriage, fostering impunity for marital rape [13].

Harmful gender norms, biases, prejudices, myths, and stereotypes have profound consequences for human rights. They fuel and exacerbate discrimination, stigma, ostracism, and violence, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). They significantly shape how societies address such violence, including in the media, legislation, justice systems, and healthcare services [14]. Several United Nations (UN) entities have highlighted their negative impact on the impartiality and integrity of the justice system, as well as on holding perpetrators legally accountable, particularly in SGBV cases [15]. In General Recommendation No. 33, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) notes that, within justice systems and law enforcement, stereotyping affects the credibility given to SGBV victims/survivors – especially women – the interpretation of the law, and expectations regarding their "appropriate" behaviour [16]. More broadly, states have an obligation under international law to prevent discrimination and harmful practices and to protect individuals from the effects of stereotypes in law and practice [17].