Brazilian soap operas are credited with lowering the fertility rate from 6 births per woman.

A team of economists credits Brazilian TV novelas for helping to dramatically lower a fertility rate that in 1960 was above six births per woman.

Others have found that in India — where soaps dominate the airwaves — villages where people watch more TV give more responsibilities and rights to women and girls.

Researchers in Rwanda have found that radio soap operas there can help defuse the country’s dangerous ethnic tensions.

Turkish soap operas have set off a public debate about women’s roles in the Middle East.