Reproductive coercion and abuse against women from minority ethnic backgrounds: views of service providers in Australia

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Tarzia, L
Douglas, H
Sheeran, N
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2020
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Abstract

Reproductive coercion and abuse is defined as behaviour that deliberately interferes with a person’s reproductive autonomy. It is typically perpetrated by men against women in a context of fear and control and includes forcing a woman to become pregnant or to terminate a pregnancy. There is a dearth of qualitative research investigating experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse, particularly for women from minority ethnic backgrounds. In this study, we address this gap through qualitative analysis of data from six focus groups with service providers in Australia. Three main themes were developed: 1) exploiting structural inequalities; 2) women as reproductive property; and 3) pregnancy as a form of control. Findings confirm the complex interplay between reproductive coercion and abuse, intimate partner and sexual violence, and suggest that community attitudes towards women’s role in sex and reproduction and structural risk factors may complicate this nexus even further for minority ethnic women. It is important for service providers supporting minority ethnic women – particularly in antenatal and abortion care – to be aware of reproductive coercion and abuse. Similarly, policies concerning access to financial support for minority ethnic women should acknowledge the critical role this could play in facilitating or preventing abuse.

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Culture, Health & Sexuality

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This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Culture, Health & Sexuality, 11 Jan 2021, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2020.1859617

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This publication has been entered as an advanced online version in Griffith Research Online.

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Health services and systems

Public health

Sociology

Cultural studies

Anthropology

Gender studies

Australia

Reproductive coercion

ethnic minorities

migrant women

violence against women

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Tarzia, L; Douglas, H; Sheeran, N, Reproductive coercion and abuse against women from minority ethnic backgrounds: views of service providers in Australia, Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2020

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