Women's Autonomy Research Articles

Gender Equality Through Abortion Rights: Exploring the Constitutional Framework and Social Justice

This paper examines the legal protection of the right to abortion under the U.S. constitutional framework and its impact on women's equality. The study traces the historical and jurisprudential development of the right to abortion and examines the impact of restricting this right on women's education, employment, and overall social justice. This is achieved through the analysis of relevant legal documents. The findings indicate that the protection of the right to abortion is crucial for the assurance of women's autonomy in matters of reproduction, and has a substantial influence on their educational and economic prospects. The paper concludes that the constitutional protection of abortion is a crucial step in achieving gender equality and social justice. It is incumbent upon governments and courts to promote gender equality and social justice by introducing legislation to protect the right to abortion and by creating social security systems. The following section will examine the aforementioned topic in greater detail.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire: Deconstruction of Female Identity

Abstract: Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a drama film directed by Cline Sciamma and starring Adle Haenel and Nomie Merlant. The film centers on the passionate love story between Heloise, a bride on the brink of marriage, and Marianne, the painter commissioned to create her portrait. This paper analyses the construction and deconstruction of female identity in Portrait of a Lady on Fire through the lenses of gaze theory and feminist identity theory. It begins by exploring Heloise's resistance to the objectifying male gaze, illustrated through her defiance against the passive model identity and her challenge to the myth of Orpheus, which traditionally casts women in powerlessness and rescue role. The paper then delves into the film's critique of the roles of wife and mother within the patriarchal, heteronormative family structure, drawing on Simone de Beauvoir's ideas in The Second Sex to further contextualize the film's feminist discourse. Through these analyses, the paper reveals how the film reimagines and challenges traditional female identities, offering a detailed and subtle portrayal of women's autonomy and identity.

Status and associated factors of health insurance enrollment among women in Nepal

AbstractThe Government of Nepal (GoN) introduced a Health Insurance Program (HIP) in 2016 aiming to ensure quality healthcare for all Nepalese citizens without financial hardship. However, the HIP has not attracted as many people as expected. It shows low enrollment and high dropout rates. Studies on this issue are scarce, particularly regarding women. To identify the factors associated with women enrollment in health insurance (HI), this study utilized a cross‐sectional design, analyzing secondary data (n = 14,845) from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022. Chi‐square test and logistic regression were used to identify associations with women participation in the HIP. Women enrollment in HI was positively and significantly associated with province, age, ethnicity, educational level, religion, place of residence, ecological region, wealth index, women's autonomy in household decisions, household head status, and current employment (p < 0.01). Socioeconomic and demographic factors of the respondents, such as being over 35 years old (aOR = 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65–2.39), having a secondary or higher education (aOR = 2.96; 95% CI: 2.43–3.64), being currently employed in a paid job (aOR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.17–1.47), and belonging to the richest wealth status (aOR = 5.64; 95% CI: 4.33–7.34), were more likely to be enrolled in the HIP compared to their respective reference groups. In conclusion, being of privileged socioeconomic status, belonging to a specific ethnic group, having a higher educational level, being employed, and living in the Mountain region are all associated with women enrollment in HIP. Policymakers may consider these findings when planning and implementing future interventions.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) and Early Childbearing Revisited: Births and Birth Intendedness After LARC Removal in a State Medicaid Population (2012-2020).

Objectives. To analyze births and birth intendedness after long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) removal among Medicaid-insured women. Methods. We linked all Delaware women with a Medicaid-covered LARC removal in 2012 to 2020 (n = 8047) to birth records and to Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) pregnancy intendedness survey responses (n = 241). Results. Births within 3 years of a Medicaid-covered LARC removal were much more likely to be to women in their 20s compared with all Medicaid births (63.5% vs 53.4%; P < .001). The intended proportion for births within 3 years of Medicaid-covered LARC removal (65.2%) was higher than for all Medicaid-covered births (58.8%; P = .08) and was consistently above 60% across all age groups younger than 30 years. Conclusions. A state Medicaid-insured population's use of highly effective reversible contraception was associated with births being concentrated among women in their 20s and with consistently high fractions of intended births across younger ages at birth. Public Health Implications. Programs and policies may consider LARC access for its potential to increase low-income women's reproductive autonomy by enhancing their ability to achieve births at the age of their choosing. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 10, 2024:e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307844).

Pregnancy intentions and outcomes among young married women in Nepal

BackgroundApproximately 44% of Nepalese women ages 15–49, desiring to avoid pregnancy, do not use modern contraceptives, resulting in an estimated 539,000 unintended pregnancies annually. ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the association between young, newly married women's pregnancy intentions and subsequent pregnancies. Study designData were collected longitudinally from 200 recently married women aged 18–25 in Nepal. Surveys conducted every six months over 18 months covered various health domains. The study used mixed-effects logistic regression models to account for repeated measurement of correlated data over time. The primary outcome was pregnancy. Pregnancy intention was determined based on responses to, “When would you like to have a child in case you were to have one?” Participants were recategorized into a dichotomous variable for analytical purposes: “Right away” or “Not right away.” ResultsA total of 133 participants became pregnant during the study, with sociodemographic characteristics showing minimal differences between pregnant and nonpregnant groups. Women intending to become pregnant right away had significantly higher odds of becoming pregnant (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.51–6.48) after adjusting for covariates. Among those not intending immediate pregnancy, over 70% became pregnant, suggesting potential barriers to achieving reproductive goals. ConclusionsYoung, newly married women in Nepal intending immediate pregnancy have higher odds of becoming pregnant. However, a substantial proportion of those hoping to delay pregnancy still experience unintended pregnancies, indicating challenges in meeting reproductive goals. The findings underscore the need for addressing barriers to contraceptive access and societal norms impacting women's reproductive autonomy in Nepal.

Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care: Development of a statewide guideline in Queensland, Australia.

Choice, a fundamental pillar of woman-centred maternity care, depends in part on the right to decline recommended care. While professional guidance for midwives and obstetricians emphasises informed consent and respect for women's autonomy, there is little guidance available to clinicians or women about how to navigate maternity care in the context of refusal. To describe the process and outcomes of co-designing resources to support partnership between the woman who declines recommended maternity care and the clinicians and health services who provide her care. Following a participatory co-design process involving consumer representatives, obstetricians, midwives, maternal fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, health service executives, and legal and ethics experts, implementation of the resources was trialled in seven Queensland Health services using Improvement Science's Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Resources for Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care have now been implemented statewide, in Queensland, including a guideline, two consumer information brochures (available in 11 languages), clinical form, flowcharts, consumer video, clinician education, and culturally capable First Nations resources. Central to these resources is an innovative shared clinical form, that is accessible online, may be initiated and carried by the woman, and where she can document her perspective as part of the clinical notes. Queensland is the first Australian jurisdiction, and perhaps internationally, to formally establish this kind of guidance in clinical practice. Such guidance is identified as an enabler of choice in the national Australian strategy Woman-centred care: Strategic directions for Australian maternity services.

Women's decision-making power can influence modern contraceptive use: Evidence from Bangladesh.

It is generally believed that gender inequality and women's lack of decision-making power may restrict women's use of modern contraception, leading to high rates of unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and deaths. Evidence shows that empowered women are more likely to use modern contraception methods, but few studies have investigated this across multiple domains of empowerment. This study examined the associations between women's empowerment and modern contraception use in Bangladesh. Data from a sample of 16,834 married women aged 15-49years from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018 were analysed. Complex survey weight adjusted logistic models were fitted to evaluate the associations after adjusting for clusters, strata, and sampling weights. indicate that just over half of the married women (55.7%) had used modern contraception methods. Women's empowerment was associated with contraceptive use, especially decision-making power. Women who had medium or high autonomy of household decision making were likely to have 20% (AOR=1.20; 95% CI: 1.04-1.39) and 27% (AOR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.11-1.45) increased odds of using modern contraceptives compared to those who scored low in the decision-making domain. The findings demonstrated strong evidence of direct influence of women's decision-making power on modern contraception use. The results also found influence of several socio-demographic factors including area of residence, husband's age, wealth index andmobile phone ownership on the use of modern contraceptives. Future interventions can focus on integrating women's empowerment into family planning programming, with a particular focus on enhancing women's autonomy in decision making.

Gender Ideology and Women's Autonomy in Colleen Hoover's Regretting You

This study investigates the issue of women's autonomy through Colleen Hoover's novel Regretting You. With MacKinnon's dominance theory as a tool, this research paper explores the impact of patriarchal societal norms on power dynamics between men and women. The study's objective is to examine how gender ideology shapes women's choices without their awareness. By investigating the consequences of these norms, this study aims to focus on how sexual dominance inhibits female autonomy. The study employs a qualitative research method, specifically close textual analysis with thematic coding, to identify recurring motifs and character archetypes. Through this approach, the study examines how the novel portrays women as oppressed, victimized, and objectified within the dominant cultural discourse. The findings of the study indicate that internalized patriarchal norms have a significant influence on female characters' attitudes towards domestic violence. Ultimately, this study emphasizes how systemic oppression impedes women's ability to make autonomous choices and underscores the importance of addressing issues such as domestic violence and sexual domination through the experiences of female characters.

Impacts of women's work and childcare on child illness among Bangladeshi Shodagor communities

For decades, women's employment has been seen as crucial for achieving greater autonomy and empowerment for women, and for promoting better health and nutrition outcomes for children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). However, numerous empirical studies of the relationship between women's work and child outcomes have shown mixed results. Our study tests the assumptions of a model that suggests loss of maternal care during working hours may produce negative health outcomes for children. We use longitudinal data collected from traditionally semi-nomadic, boat-dwelling Shodagor families in Matlab, Bangladesh to determine the importance of maternal care as a mechanism influencing the relationship between women's work and child illness. We use Bayesian linear mixed models to assess the influence of occupation and amount of care on average days of child illness per month, and also to examine the role that allomothers play in buffering against potential negative impacts of lost maternal care on child illness. Results show that children who receive more care from mothers experience fewer days of illness, and that availability of high-quality alloparents mediates the relationship between maternal work and child health. These results indicate that both the care and resources provided by mothers influence children's biological outcomes. This has important implications for policy and aid interventions in LMIC, which have been developed to capitalize on an assumed positive relationship between maternal work and child health and nutrition.

Childbearing Women's Experiences of and Interactions With the Health System in Vietnam: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis.

Scholars have long argued that the care experience is shaped by context, and by evolutions in this context. Using Vietnam as a case, we critically interrogate the literature on women's experiences with maternity care to unpack whether and if it engages with the major social, economic, and health system impacts of the Doi Moi reforms in Vietnam and with what consequences for equity. We conducted a critical interpretive synthesis of this literature in light of the social, economic, and health system transformations driven by the Doi Moi reforms. We offer three critiques: (1) an overwhelming focus on public maternity care provision in rural/mountainous regions of Vietnam, (2) a narrow focus on women's ethnic identity, and (3) a misplaced preoccupation with women's limited autonomy and agency. We argue that future research needs to consider the impact of Vietnam's shift towards market-oriented care provision, and the broader societal and health system changes impacting both rural and urban areas, as well as ethnic minority and Kinh majority populations.

Konsep wali nikah dalam perspektif ulama klasik dan modern

This paper explores the concept of marriage guardian in Islamic jurisprudence by examining its interpretation and application by scholars from classical schools such as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali, and comparing it with the views of contemporary scholars. The role of the marriage guardian is very important in the Islamic marriage contract, especially as it usually involves a male guardian consenting to a girl's marriage. The study also examines the perspectives of modern scholars who consider the evolving context of society, gender equality and women's autonomy. By comparing classical and modern interpretations, this study highlights the dynamic nature of Islamic legal thought as well as the ongoing discourse regarding the balance between traditional values and modern principles of individual rights and freedoms. The analysis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of marriage guardians, its historical roots and its relevance in today's socio-legal landscape.

Are companies ethically justified in offering nonmedical egg freezing as an employee benefit?

All over the world, many companies are including oocyte cryopreservation for nonmedical reasons, also popularly known as nonmedical egg freezing (NMEF), within their employee benefits packages. However, it is important to ask whether companies are ethically justified in offering NMEF as a benefit for their employees. The inclusion of NMEF within companies' employee benefits packages could be ethically justified in two ways. On the one hand, company-sponsored NMEF can serve as a strategy to mitigate or eliminate gender inequalities in the workplace, such as female underrepresentation in positions of authority and leadership and the so-called work/motherhood conflict. On the other hand, company-sponsored NMEF can be a means to expand women's reproductive autonomy by making egg freezing accessible to those women who are not able to afford it otherwise. This article calls into question these ethical justifications. We argue that by offering NMEF as an employee benefit, companies maintain current workplace inequalities and impose an option for women with multiple risks and externalities. Therefore, companies' offering of NMEF benefits cannot be ethically justified. Furthermore, we argue that companies that offer NMEF benefits incur fiduciary responsibilities related to the physiological, emotional, psychological, and financial costs of the use of company-sponsored NMEF.

Women agency and provincial autonomy: a study of post-18th Amendment local government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The 18th Amendment to the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, a significant milestone in the country's political landscape, granted the provinces certain political and fiscal powers. This included the right to pass local government legislation and hold local government elections. In the 2015 local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a remarkable number of women were elected to local councils on gender quota seats (33%). This was a clear testament to the empowering potential of the 18th Amendment. However, despite this progress, the underrepresentation of women in decision-making processes remains a pressing issue. This paper aims to answer how provincial autonomy has contributed to the autonomy and agency of women councillors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study collected data from purposively selected districts, Nowshera, Haripur, and Kohat, through individual interviews using qualitative approaches. The paper strongly advocates that the participation of women councillors in local government necessitates more stringent policy reforms to make the local councils more inclusive towards women as representatives. This stance is crucial and imperative for women's political autonomy and empowerment.

Evaluation of the RISE II integrated social and behavior change approach in Niger: A contribution analysis.

Niger faces a myriad of health challenges and development efforts are complicated by persistent poverty, high population growth rates, and climate change. Integrated social and behavior change (SBC) addresses health outcomes through collective action and approaches at the limited points of entry individuals have with the health system. We conducted a mixed-methods study to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated SBC program in the Maradi, and Zinder regions of Niger. We applied contribution analysis, a theory-based plausibility analysis, to assess contributions of the intervention. We found the program contributed to improved behavioral determinants. Male engagement and income generating activities provided further support for women to practice health behaviors. However, increases in male partner out-migration was negatively associated with health outcomes. While the program did not generate statistically significant improvements in health outcomes in the intervention area, exposure to health messages and participation in women's groups were positively associated with health outcomes suggesting sustained implementation of the integrated SBC approach at scale may achieve improved health outcomes. Programs should continue to invest in health promotion efforts that include gender sensitive interventions. Further research is needed to understand how women's agency and autonomy evolves as household composition changes through male out-migration.

Correlating Educational Attainment and Single Parenting in Nigeria

This study delves into the intricate connection between educational achievement and decisions regarding family planning, alongside the escalating prevalence of single parenting. Existing literature suggests that children raised in single-parent households, particularly those led by mothers, may develop positive attributes. However, conversely, this scenario can also give rise to negative traits, contributing to societal issues. Moreover, choices related to engaging in unprotected sex, initial pregnancies, and assuming the role of a single parent may be influenced by one's educational attainment. Nevertheless, the study acknowledges the contradictory conclusions within the literature regarding the correlation between education and single parenting for unmarried women. This necessitates a thorough examination. Employing a mixed research methodology that is non-experimental, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative techniques, the study conducted an online survey via Facebook with the Nigerian Single Parent Lounge group due to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that among highly educated women, education is linked to reduced fertility rates and delayed childbirth. The study identifies several contributing factors to single parenting, including heightened independence, delayed marriage, and the financial autonomy of educated women. Consequently, the paper proposes targeted family planning awareness initiatives, enhanced accessibility to contraceptives, and policy adjustments to assist women in managing their personal and professional lives. To address the complexities involved, the study recommends the introduction of programs aimed at aiding women in navigating family planning decisions in tandem with their employment. Additionally, cultural attitudes hindering highly educated women from entering into marriage should be addressed, fostering a more inclusive societal perspective.

Reproductive health care seeking behavior in Bangladesh: Asystematic literature review.

Maternal health, in terms of pregnancy and childbirth, is an important aspect of women's reproductive health and remains a public health concern in underdeveloped countries of the world. Reproductive health care seeking behavior (RHSB), in both men and women in society, is influenced by a variety of social and environmental factors that needs to be summarized. This review aims to enhance understanding and perception of services in relation to RHSBs in several domains such as antenatal care (ANC), delivery care, postnatal care (PNC), and family planning (FP) services, for married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. In major databases, for example, Medline, Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest and Google Scholar following keywords, timeline set as 2010 up to December 30, 2022. Articles that included discussion on married women of reproductive age, and their type of care seeking behavior for reproductive health. A systematic literature search was carried out and expected outcome was health care seeking behavior in the aspects of ANC, delivery care, PNC, and FP services. A data extraction form and quality appraisal form were used for data on RHSB of married women of the reproductive age group in Bangladesh and associated factors. A total of 245 articles were retrieved from databases; stepwise screening was done and finally 23 full-text articles were included for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used based on the included articles for narrative synthesis. In the selected articles, 17 (73.91%) were cross-sectional studies and more than half discussed both urban and rural women. Ante- and postnatal visits have proven to have positively influenced overall RHSB, as seen in Bangladesh. Grass root level workers play a major role in upgrading RHSB in women. Many factors limit rural access to mother and child health services including distance of the health facility and cost of the health service. In particular, education level, women's autonomy in family decision making and distance from health service can be considered as factors influencing RHSBs in Bangladesh. Exposure to mass media and TV watching are likely to positively impact RHSB patterns for women in Bangladesh.

Health system responsiveness and its associated factors for intrapartum care in conflict affected areas in Amhara region, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveIn Ethiopia, information about health system responsiveness (HSR) in conflict-affected areas is limited. No previous local study was conducted on the assessment of HSR at the community level. Hence, the...

Prawne aspekty dostępu do antykoncepcji w Polsce

The ability to choose safe, effective and affordable contraceptive methods and to have access to comprehensive information on all family planning methods is one aspect of reproductive rights, which are considered an integral part of human rights. According to reports by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual &amp; Reproductive Rights, Poland has for years recorded the worst access to contraception among European countries. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the regulations in force in the Polish legal system provide real access to contraception that complies with international standards. The following methods of contraception were analysed: emergency, chemical, mechanical, hormonal, long-term and permanent. Furthermore, issues affecting access to contraception, such as the conscience clause, sex education, and the lack of autonomy of underage women in deciding on contraceptive methods, excluding mechanical and chemical, were covered. As the majority of contraceptives are intended for use by women, any restriction on access to them can be qualified as a form of gender discrimination.

Revisiting Hindu Marriage Norms: Unveiling Women’s Agency in Ancient India

This article extensively explores marriage norms in ancient India, focusing on women's agency. It begins by dissecting the concept of marriage and its variations in ancient India and sheds light on its significance from women's viewpoints. It scrutinises the roles of women within the institution, including debates surrounding the age of marriage, the qualities sought in brides, and the complexities of partner selection including the prohibited degrees of marriage. The paper delves into her roles in marriage rituals as well as post-marital positions. Contentious issues like divorce and remarriage of women have also been touched. Overall, this article aims to uncover obscure aspects of women's autonomy within marriage, analysing their roles and representations across all facets. By examining evolving Hindu marriage norms throughout the Vedic, Puranic and Smriti periods, it emphasizes the need for a refined understanding of women's agency. The paper seeks to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of marriage in ancient India, particularly from the perspective of women's representations, urging readers to reconsider conventional narratives. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Hum.), Vol. 69(1), 2024, pp. 1-32

Validation of the Greek version of Mother's Autonomy in Decision Making (MADM) scale.

Ensuring expectant mothers have the capacity to make well-informed decisions regarding their prenatal care, encompassing medical interventions, and birthing preferences are crucial for fostering favorable health outcomes for both mother and newborn. The Mother's Autonomy in Decision Making (MADM) scale serves as a commonly utilized tool for evaluating the autonomy of pregnant women in the decision-making processes related to prenatal care and childbirth. The aim of this study is to validate the MADM scale in women who had at least one home childbirth experience in Greece. A retrospective online survey collected data from Greek women with home childbirth experience (January 2010 - December 2023). We utilized a self-administered questionnaire and the Greek version of the MADM scale. The study included 162 women, predominantly of Greek nationality (94.4%) and residing in Attica (54%). The MADM scale showed a median score of 38. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit and reliability (comparative fit index, CFI=0.92; Tucker-Lewis index, TLI=0.91; root mean square error of approximation, RMSEA=0.07; Cronbach's α=0.92). Age correlated weakly negatively with the MADM scale score (Spearman's rho= -0.166, p=0.035). Additionally, women attending antenatal preparation courses with a midwife before their first home birth had higher MADM scores (median 39 vs 35, p=0.037). The study underscores the importance of the MADM scale, demonstrating its reliability and validity for women living in Greece. Younger age and attending antenatal preparation courses with a midwife were associated with higher MADM scores, highlighting education's role in maternal autonomy.