It Helps Me, Not You: Reproductive Autonomy, Masculinities and Contraception Among Young Women and Men

• In Event: 505 - Regular Session. Sociology of Reproduction: Reproductive Governance

Abstract

This research explores gender-based power and contraceptive use based on in-depth interviews with 40 racially and ethnically diverse young men and women ages 15 to 24, a time in life when risk of unintended pregnancy is particularly high in the US. Overall, men and women promoted egalitarian gender ideals. However, when asked about pregnancy prevention, the participants’ larger ideals did not translate to equality in practice. Gender-based power was imbalanced in a variety of domains; men often indicated that their female partners “knew best” and should have control and responsibility when it came to contraception. Women supported these views. Men remained enthusiastic of women’s contraceptive decisions, but most were simultaneously unengaged; yet for the few men who did support their partner’s contraceptive decision-making process, they were fit within the same hegemonic framework as the men who did not engage in contraceptive choices; the social construction of contraceptive decision-making excludes men from this reproductive domain. We ultimately show the complexities of masculinities and femininities, and how young people construct gendered bodies, through our exploration of power distribution in the context of contraception decisions and responsibilities.

Authors

• Ann Fefferman, University of California, Irvine

• Ushma Upadhyay, UCSF