From its beginning a half century ago, the Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system was designed to evolve with the times and incorporate input from all relevant stakeholders, including theater owners, filmmakers, and the religious and political communities. First and foremost, though, it was created to help parents make informed viewing choices for their children.

In many parts of South Sudan, protracted conflict and ethnic tensions continue. Violence, including gender-based violence, is normalised to resolve disputes at household level and between groups and communities. BBC Media Action research1 shows that gender norms, or “informal rules and shared social expectations that distinguish expected behaviour on the basis of gender”2 prevent women from speaking out against violence and being actively involved in decision-making and peacebuilding processes