The Role of Outside Influences in Personal Reproductive Choice
Overview
Outside influences play a significant role in a woman’s choice for reproductive health, contrary to popular belief. There are several external factors that impact a woman’s right to choose; a few being religion, tradition, economic constraints, and the concept of traditional motherhood. Following the ruling and administration of Roe V. Wade, the West has been torn on issues of abortion and birth control as they arrive into public light. Several distinctive cultures and worldwide communities, although quite different, have an influence on Western factors as well, especially in immigrant populations. A woman’s decision on reproductive health and sexual matters then fluctuates based on the influence of her negotiations with parents, partners, health providers, and the larger community. Women’s reproductive rights are a topic of debate rising in popularity right now in Western media, society, and policymaking; and the mention of religion, society, economic constraints, and traditional motherhood are infrequent. Ultimately, women are controlled by the opinions of those closest to them and each of the following key factors holds a different rank depending on the woman.
Religion
The role that religion plays in personal choice is one that is largely spearheaded by the notion of religious texts’ teachings. Most religious beliefs strongly attest to the belief that all life is sacred. Therefore, many people believe that contraceptives and abortion goes against God's rules, devaluing human life. Religious beliefs play an important role in determining one's morals, thus affecting their stance on abortion and other birth control methods as well [1].
Christianity
There are strong “pro-family” traditions that exist within many communities. Generally, Catholics and Protestants are the least supportive of abortion rights than any other American religious group. This is largely due to bible scripture, moral principle, and the threatening of proper gender roles as it encourages women to cultivate careers and focus less on the home. [2]
Islam
Perspectives on family planning in Islam are fairly divided among the community due to the varied range of strictness practiced. Some countries are more fluid on a woman’s sexuality while others are not, and any form of premarital sex is condemned however, many modern, less-dogmatic Muslims are laxer towards the idea of birth control.
Society
Pre-marital Pregnancy
Societal and gender roles influence decision from their deeply ingrained value system that have evolved into everyday norms and biases. In many communities, pre-marital pregnancy is condemned, fundamentally due to its history of intense family disapproval. These negative attitudes largely reflected financial standing: it was considered “an absolute family disaster” among the upper class; and a severe transgression in middle-class families, in which many cases parents often insisted their daughter marry the father of their child [3]. Consequently, in the 1950s, the rate of premarital pregnancy dropped and was miniscule. This may not be the case today in many Western communities however, the stigma of out-of-wedlock or teenage pregnancy remains.
India
In more conservative countries like India, the purpose of ceremonies like marriage is to beget male offspring, especially in the traditional and patriarchal dominated area that it is [4]. A boy child brings a future to the family lineage, and creates safety if the man of the house were to pass away. Any form of pre-marital sex is highly frowned upon and could result in severe social consequences for the woman involved.
Economic Constraints
Despite the findings that exhibit that an individual’s stance on abortion varies largely on their liberal or conservative status, factors such as income, age, and employment also play a significant role [1]. Economic constraints can prevent women from choosing the option of pregnancy or even advanced forms of birth control, depending on their coverage. Furthermore, financial hardship has been linked to having negative implications on a newborn child’s health compared to babies that were reared in a well-off home [5]. In turn, lack of proper financial backing may lead a woman to choose an alternative to pregnancy such as abortion or adoption for the sake of their future child’s health.
Research has also shown married couples are better able to care emotionally, physically, and financially for a child than an unwed mother, which suggests marriage may be more conducive to a pro-life stance [1].
Traditional Motherhood
A study was completed where college students were asked to rank the importance of motherhood and fatherhood according to several given statements. "Raising a family" was determined to be one of their primary values [6]. According to the study, male college students still favour a more traditional view of both motherhood and fatherhood over women, however both sexes agreed upon traditional gender roles to an extent [7]. Studies like these show how much of a role a woman’s partner can also play in influencing her decision to pursue motherhood.
South Africa
At the beginning of apartheid (1950's South Africa), the family was of central importance to most minorities, and therefore familial pressures were of greatest significance in shaping attitudes regarding births out of wedlock. Prior to colonization and well into the twentieth century, fertility was highly prized in most African cultures, especially in agricultural communities. However, this was restricted to marriage only. Anything else was commonly considered a serious violation of social norms that had the potential to derail marriage plans arranged by families, therefore female sexuality was regulated by families to ensure reproduction occurred within marriage. When precautions failed, abortion could be deemed necessary by those who might be affected by an unwanted pregnancy. Since abortion was highly regulated in South Africa during this period, many minority women were forced to lead lives of single motherhood if their partner did not choose to marry them [3].
Further Reading
http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/10/sex-lives-of-college-students.html
http://www.correctislamicfaith.com/sexualpracticeinislam.htm
http://www.vcho.co.za/pdf/christelike_etiek/abortion-in-south-africa.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/02/11/reviews/010211.11starrt.html
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hess, J.A. & Rueb, J.D. Current Psychology (2005) 24: 24.
- ↑ Ellison, C., Echevarría, S., Eschevarría, S., & Smith, B. (2005). Religion and Abortion Attitudes Among U.S. Hispanics: Findings from the 1990 Latino National Political Survey. Social Science Quarterly, 86(1), 192-208.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Klausen, S. M. (2015). Abortion Under Apartheid: Nationalism, Sexuality, and Women's Reproductive Rights in South Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Maguire, Daniel C. (2003). Sacred Rights. Oxford University Press, USA. Retrieved from <http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=70408>
- ↑ Seguin, L., Xu, Q., Gauvin, L., Zunzunegui, M., Potvin, L., & Frohlich, K. (2005). Understanding the dimensions of socioeconomic status that influence toddlers’ health: unique impact of lack of money for basic needs in Quebec’s birth cohort. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 59(1), 42–48.
- ↑ American Council on Education and University of California. (2003). The American freshman: National norms for fall, 2003. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute. U.C.L.A. Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.
- ↑ Whatley, M., & Knox, D. (2005, September). Scales for Measuring College Student Views of Traditional Motherhood and Fatherhood. College Student Journal, East Carolina University, Valdosta State University, 39(3), 588-595.
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