La contraception, levier réel ou symbolique de la domination masculine

Abstract

Contraception: actual or symbolic lever of maie domination The development and diffusion of medical contraception can be thought to have promoted gender equity in areas of social life such as sexuality, family and work over the last three decades, period during which the feminist agenda has slowly been institutionalized in policies and laws. This article shows, however, that the advent of medical contraception was unable to subvert the gender hierarchy. Indeed, this technology does not challenge, but rather consolidates, the construction of female identities based on motherhood. While the use of medical contraceptives allows women to conciliate with greater ease professional activity and motherhood, this practice does not question the sexual division of productive and reproductive work, which remains an important component of social order. An analysis of practices and représentations in the sphere of sexuality reveals the persistancy of a gender divide.