Space, agency, and withdrawal: birth control choices of women in Turkey.
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.
Regent's Centre for Transnational Studies, Faculty of Business and Management, Regent's College London, London, UK. sirkecii@regents.ac.uk
Ibrahim
I
Sirkeci
Dilek
D
Cindoglu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003076:Coitus Interruptus; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014933:Women's Rights; D055815:Young Adult