Gender-Based Power Differentials In Contraceptive Behaviour In India

Abstract

This paper critiques gender based power differentials in terms of contraceptive behaviour in India between partners involved in sexual relations. Thereby it attempts to look at the factors impedimenting women’s control over making sexual and reproductive health decisions and negotiating protection within their primary or other sexual relationships. Apart from this, the paper tries to locate and link bio-politics of state in the career of contraception in India with socio-cultural conception of contraception deep rooted in patriarchy which negates and impede role of women from the scene of family planning. Accordingly the knowledge, behaviour and attitude of men in regard to reproductive and sexual health of women are an aspect this paper takes within the fold to investigate through available literature. The practised and popular contraceptive methods which at many times  are  denigrating for women’s reproductive and sexual health as shown in many existing literatures on women health are also being tried to critically view as figurative of  patriarchal domain of  family planning from a feminist angle in this paper. With these observations where the female body becomes the field of patriarchal surveillance and dominance, an attempt is made to look forward for a shift in outlook arguing for acceptability of contraceptive methods which favour women’s reproductive and sexual health and accordingly lessens their burden of negotiation for safe sex. Hence in this paper, female condom will be seen as an important addition to method mix which is still underused and unpopular in patriarchal country like India but having a great potential to promote healthy sexual behaviours, and increase self-efficacy and sexual confidence in women.