Transcript sociology of reproduction Wk_21 - C

The Politics of
Contraception
Week 21
Sociology of Human Reproduction
Recap
• Considered at the social construction of
families and motherhood
• Considered the concept of ‘good
motherhood’
• Considered the debates around ARTs and
prenatal screening and disability
Outline
• Outline methods and definitions of
contraception
• Examine the role of health professionals
• Examine the interrelationship with
heterosexuality
• Define and give examples of
contraception?
Contraception
• Broad definition – an action, drug or
device that prevents pregnancy
• But when does pregnancy begin?
– When an egg is fertilised?
– When a fertilised egg embeds in the womb?
– When a fertilised egg transforms into an
embryo?
Contraception Methods
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Female condom
Combined pill
Progestogen-only pill
Contraceptive injection
Contraceptive patch
Implant
Intrauterine device (IUD)
Intrauterine system (IUS)
Diaphragm
Cap
Female sterilisation
• Male condom
• Vasectomy
• Withdrawal
• Natural Family Planning
• Fully on-demand
breastfeeding
• Non-penetrative sex
Contraception Methods
• No contraception is 100% effective
– Even vasectomy and sterilisation have been
known to fail
• Ability to access and use contraception is
shaped by power relationships
– States, Law, Religions, Medicine
Religions
• Opinions vary within religions in relation to
contraception
– Catholic Church outlines all but natural family
planning – largely ignored where possible
– Islamic scholars differ
• Hadith permit ‘Azal’ (withdrawal)
• Qur'an "You should not kill your children for fear of
want" (17:31, 6:151)
– Judaism restricts ‘spilling the seed’
Pronatal Tendencies
• In general terms, most religions are pronatal
• Restrictions on contraception can be
linked to ideas about religious domination
• Religious territory conflicts have become
wars of numbers
– Israeli vs Palestinians, Protestant vs Catholic
• Should states restrict contraception on the
grounds of religion or should it be left to
women to decide?
Encountering medicine
• In the UK, most contraceptive methods are
accessed via health professionals
• Contraceptive consultations structured by:
– Distinction respectable/unrespectable users
– Conflict between contraception as ‘drug’ and
contraception as ‘beyond medicine’
Accessing contraception
• Health professionals perceptions of respectable
and unrespectable women structure
consultations
• ‘Respectable’ women conform to norms about
acceptable sexuality
• Sexually active women should not be teenagers
and should be in a serious monogamous
relationship
Accessing contraception
• Most young women start using
contraception in their teens
• Common pattern short period of condom
use then use hormonal contraception
• Young women see using hormonal
contraception as evidence of responsibility
and maturity
Accessing contraception
• Yet using contraception could also define them
as ‘unrespectable’
• Women fell disadvantaged within early
encounters with doctors due to their age
• ‘Family doctors’ a particular
hurdle to overcome
Conflicting ideologies
• Young and/or single women are ‘unrespectable
users’ of contraception as they should not be
sexually active
• But also condemned more if they become
pregnant
• Older and/or married women are respectable
users and are potential good mothers
Encountering medicine
• Taking contraception is now understood as
a normal part of heterosexual women’s
lives
• Women often do not consider it
as a ‘medical matter’
• Conflicts arise when women are refused
the method of their choice
• Do you think doctors should have a right to
refuse a woman the contraception she has
chosen?
• What does this say about women’s bodily
autonomy?
Negotiating Heterosexuality
• Ideas about heterosex impact on
contraceptive choices
– spontaneous, emotional & intense activity
• Barrier methods necessitate a rational
discontinuity and are often constructed as
a barrier to sex
• Condoms are often not considered a
‘proper’ contraceptive.
Whose responsibility?
• Heterosex and contraception carry
embodied health risks for women
– pregnancy, abortion, side effects, STIs
• These risks mean that women feel
responsible for contraception
• But this conflicts with ideas that
heterosexual relationships should be equal
Embodied Responsibility
• In the UK, few women are happy with men take
responsibility for contraception
• Women run the risk of pregnancy
• Current contraceptive choices
impact on women’s bodies
• Should responsibility for contraception be
women’s or should we encourage gender
equality?
(Not) Negotiating Heterosexuality
• Women report rarely discussing it with
partners
– (‘I’m on the pill’)
• But restrict their choices to ones that they
felt their partner would be happy with
• ‘Choice’ is always structured by power
relationships
(Not) Negotiating Heterosexuality
• Women are well aware of their partners
preferences
• Routinely restricted their choices to ones
that they felt their partner would be happy
with
Summary
• ‘Choice’ over contraception is shaped by
power relationships
• Ideas about ‘respectable’ users influence
those dispensing contraception
• Heterosexuality structures and is
structured by contraception