Couples’ Power Dynamics and the Gendered Division of Contraceptive Use in Belgium

• In Event: 340 - Regular Session. Gendered Negotiations

Abstract

Recent studies point to the importance of taking both men’s and women’s characteristics as well as the relational context into account when examining contraceptive use. Building on the theoretical frameworks of the relative resource theory and the gender perspectives, we aim to examine the association between partners’ power (im)balance and the choice of male versus female controlled contraceptives. Two power domains are included: structural resources (educational heterogamy) and interpersonal characteristics (division of housework and decision making power). The data of the Belgian Generations and Gender Programme (wave 1, 2008-2010) are used to examine our hypotheses with multinomial logistic diagonal reference models. The results show that men’s and women’s educational level are equally important predictors for a couple’s contraceptive method. Surprisingly, only the interpersonal power measures seem to determine a couple’s contraception. Our findings suggest that higher female power is associated with more male contraceptive responsibility. This adds to previous literature that highlights the importance of conceptualizing power as a multidimensional construct and that focuses on contraceptive choice as a couples’ decision.

Authors

• Rozemarijn Dereuddre, Ghent University

• Veerle Buffel, Ghent University

• Piet Bracke, Ghent University