Space, agency and withdrawal: birth control choices of women in Turkey
Author
Sirkeci, I.
Cindoglu, D.
Date
2012Source Title
Health Care for Women International
Print ISSN
0739-9332
Electronic ISSN
1096-4665
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Volume
33
Issue
7
Pages
614 - 630
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
112
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106
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Abstract
Withdrawal (WD) is not a reliable method for preventing unwanted pregnancies, yet it is still a very popular form of birth control in many societies, including Turkey. We look at the relationship between women's agency and physical space in relation to birth control choices of women in Turkey. Agency in our context refers to a woman's ability to resist domination and subordination to the patriarchal beliefs valuing her reproductivity over her pleasure. Our analysis of the Turkish Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) suggests that (a) the available space in the household for possible private encounters between husband and wife, and (b) the women's capacity to insert her agency into her life choices are closely correlated with WD choices. Women with better social and physical resources prefer WD less.