Women’s and gender studies
Over the past decade, the gender imbalance has been experienced, with the women being the victims. Sexual harassment is among the impacts of gender inequality; most women are left with no options rather than raising kids in poor backgrounds. In most communities, women, especially the poor, are taken for granted even in their workplaces. Others do not even get the opportunity to secure a job, thus end up looking for sympathy in men. To some extent, most women opt for abortions, while others miscarriage due to improper care. If appropriate care is taken, most maternal deaths could be avoided. Although most nations have structured human rights to protect women and children in society, they are still not fully implemented in some states. The paper is a study of women and gender in our societies.
Reproductive health is not the absence of a disease, but the state of being physically, socially, and mentally well in matters relating to the reproductive system. It is the ability to have a safe and satisfying sex life with the freedom to decide when and how to do it. Reproductive health is also a key determinant of in control of maternal deaths. In recent years the maternal mortality has been on the rise, especially in poor communities, as most women do not have access to maternal care. Reproductive vary in different women as every individual is unique. Reproductive control, on the other hand, is the ability of women to effectively define their childbearing intentions (Rowlands & Walker 2019). These intentions help in the utilization of effective and safe abortion and contraception services. However, most studies have proved that women in abusive marriages and relationships are at a higher risk of unintended pregnancies. No matter how much they try to control their reproductive choices, their partners always end up being the final decision-maker. Also, the poor in society experience reproductive abuse as they are mostly forced to engage in sexual activities. Therefore, there is a need for the protection of women’s rights globally. This should be in terms of reproductive health and control.
Reproductive health services have become a significant discussion in women empowerment conferences to educate women on their sexual rights. Women need to be educated on reproductive health as most do not have significant knowledge regarding their reproductive organs (Preis et al., 2016). For instance, in Somali, most women deliver in their homes while others suffer consecutive miscarriages as there are only a few maternal clinics. When such women are monitored and forced to go for prenatal clinics during their pregnancy, they can deliver safely. This shows that maternal mortality can be controlled by having efficient and effective maternal care. However, racism in most countries has led to problems related to unequal socioeconomic status. To be precise, the black has not embraced reproduction control as compared to the whites. This is due to the traditional beliefs held by Africans. Also, in the past two decades, most African countries had limited access to reproductive control knowledge and services. As a result, there has been a noticeable increase in maternal mortality as well as unwanted pregnancies. Lack of Planned Parenthood makes the poor more miserable as they struggle with the provision of the basic needs of the family. Others suffer from the lack of children due to the lack of maternal services leading to miscarriages. The inability to bear children is not always acceptable in most societies, and the victims are always treated as outcasts.
Moreover, the right to access information and reproductive health services has been a problem for the migrants. The internal migrant population is represented by women, with most of them being the youth. The institutional barriers to access these services expose them to a higher risk of sickness compared to non-immigrants. Also, there are excluded from the formal available medical facilities, thus affective their health in general. Human health is affected by factors such as change of location, limited support systems, influential varying lifestyles as well as abuse. Most researchers have reported that the reproductive health needs of migrant women have been neglected. Apart from requirements regarding HIV and STIs prevention, pre and post-natal care have also been ignored. Also, their maternal health and deliveries, contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion have not been put into consideration. Provisions available for the non-immigrants in regards to sexual violence and confidential counseling are also not open to the migrant women irrespective of marital status, age, and type of employment (Prather et al.,2018). The only option available for them is seeking traditional treatment and private services, which are unaffordable to all as they have no access to public health facilities. As a result, maternal mortality has increased among the migrants, while others are giving birth to abnormal children. In most countries, the migrants work in industries, and most women are unable to hold back from sexual violence. They have no control over their reproduction due to the threats they receive from men. Besides, young women are more exposed to health risks as they fear being accused of being sexually active before marriage.
Additionally, the cultural environment involves personal attitudes and feelings towards reproductive health and control. Most countries are a diverse mix of racial, cultural, and ethnic groups. This ethnic and cultural diversity is reflected in the wide variation in attitudes and knowledge towards fertility control. For instance, some migrants come from nations with better systems concerning reproductive health. This makes it hard for them to accept the available services, thus forced to negotiate for better services, which could be inaccessible. In Thailand, the use of condoms is associated with the prostitution industry. Therefore the United States’ efforts to encourage the use of condoms as a contraceptive method may be resisted by the Thailand immigrants. According to Preis (2016), illegal immigrants are not able to access contraception, as there are no programs set for them to finance contraceptive services. Politically, matters relating to reproductive health and control are also affected. In most countries, there is an age limit set by the government in the engagement of sexual activities. Although the recent generations have ignored this fact, the religious groups are working with the government in discouraging premarital sex. The persistent rise in the rate of the spread of HIV and teenage pregnancies, education related to reproductive health, and control have been availed in schools. However, several religious groups are against this move as they view it as a way of encouraging premarital sexual activities and sexual activities outside marriage.
In conclusion, socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and political differences play a significant role in reproductive health and control. The immigrants and the poor are at a high risk of problems associated with reproductive health. Besides, cultural beliefs in regards to reproductive control differ widely, making the measures set unacceptable. Therefore, lawmakers should consider cultural and ethnic diversity while making laws regarding reproductive health.
Rowlands, S., & Walker, S. (2019). Reproductive control by others: means, perpetrators and effects. BMJ sexual & reproductive health, 45(1), 61-67.
Preis, H., Benyamini, Y., Morgan, K., Neter, E., & Todorova, I. (2016). Choice and control over my body and health? Women’s reproductive health in socio-cultural context. European Health Psychologist, 18(S), 325.
Prather, C., Fuller, T. R., Jeffries IV, W. L., Marshall, K. J., Howell, A. V., Belyue-Umole, A., & King, W. (2018). Racism, African American women, and their sexual and reproductive health: a review of historical and contemporary evidence and implications for health equity. Health equity, 2(1), 249-259.