Negotiating choice: Unpacking the linkages between women’s relative resources and contraceptive decision making in India

Babbar, Karan, Puro, Neeraj and Bodas, Mandar (2025) Negotiating choice: Unpacking the linkages between women’s relative resources and contraceptive decision making in India. Sociology. ISSN 0038-0385 (In Press)

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Abstract

This study examines how women’s access to resources, power in relationships and husbands’ gender role attitudes affect contraceptive decisions in India. Relational empowerment, a woman’s agency within her relationship, influences the extent to which resources translate into contraceptive control. While increased resources may empower women to negotiate within their relationships, traditional gender norms can constrain their autonomy, even when they feel empowered. Using data from a large Indian survey, the National Family Health Survey-5, which includes 37,889 couples, we find that women earning more than their husbands have greater relational empowerment and contraceptive control. This link weakens when husbands hold traditional gender views. Our findings show that supporting women’s reproductive rights requires addressing both resource inequalities and harmful gender beliefs.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: contraceptive decision autonomy | moderated mediation | NFHS-5 | patriarchal attitude | quantitative sociology | relational empowerment | relative resource theory
Subjects: Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Gender Studies
Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Social Sciences (General)
Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Behavioral Studies
JGU School/Centre: Jindal Global Business School
Depositing User: Dharmveer Modi
Date Deposited: 17 Mar 2025 16:39
Last Modified: 17 Mar 2025 16:39
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385251322118
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/9243

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