Family Influences on Zimbabwean Women’ s Reproductive Decisions and their Participation in the Wider Society

Explores the roles of husbands and mothers-in-law in reproductive decision-making and women’s participation in development. It addresses the question of whether women and their families believe lower fertility should enable young mothers to engage in activity outside the domestic sphere. The data are drawn from one of four studies in Zimbabwe that explore different aspects of a common theme: the impact of family planning on women’s participation in the development process. This work suggests that family members tend to exert conservative pressure on women, even those with small families, to limit their activity to the household domain.|<blockquote> This qualitative study explored the impact husbands and other family members have on women's reproductive decisions and on their ability to participate in the country's economic development process. The study also examined the impact family size has on women's participation in the work force and in community and political activities. Eighty in-depth interviews were held with women and men in Masvingo province (the rural Chivi and urban Masvingo districts). Researchers also conducted focus group discussions with four categories of participants: young women ages 25 to 40 with small families (four or fewer children) and with large families (five or more children); married men ages 25 to 50; and older women (women over 40 with daughters-in-law). All young women in the sample were contraceptive users. Among the findings: Most young women said they often initiate discussions with their husbands about family planning. While women said husbands are supportive, they allowed them the right to make final decisions in contraceptive matters, since, they said, men are usually the family breadwinners. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> In-laws offer opinions and advice about family size, but generally the final decision rests with the couple. Most older women wanted grandchildren, especially boys, to extend the family line, assist with household chores, and provide care for them in old age. The preference for a large family was more pronounced among rural women than their urban counterparts. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Men and older women acknowledged the economic and health benefits of family planning but tend to believe that contraception should begin only after a woman has proven her fertility. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> In managing household spending, women were generally responsible for some routine and relatively inexpensive items, such as food and clothing, while men tended to make major decisions. Women said husbands control all the family income, even if the woman earns money herself. Urban working women claimed more control of household expenditures and felt freer to use their own earnings to support their own parents, pay school fees or make purchases without their husbands' consent. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Virtually all participants saw education as essential for survival in Zimbabwe's changing economy. Younger women agreed that girls should have the same access to education as boys, while older women viewed education as the means to employment and more income to contribute to in-laws' comfort and well-being. Yet, in spite of support for girls' education, some women said that during hard economic times, boys should be given preference. "Children should get the same education, but if money is scarce, I would rather send a boy [to school] than a girl who will get married [and move] elsewhere." <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Most young women and mothers-in-law believed that the number of children a woman has does not affect her ability to pursue job training or participate in the labor force. However, most women had quit their jobs after marriage and did not seek education or job training once they begin childbearing. Women said they were no longer interested in education, no one encouraged them to continue, or they lacked money and time. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Both women and men spoke of the economic benefits of women's paid work; however, there was a strong tendency among men and older women to link the concept of women's employment outside the home with promiscuity. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Most women supported involvement in political and community activities, but few actually participated. Women said they voted in national and local elections but did not seek office themselves. A few urban women supported women's participation in the political arena as a way to raise the standard of living for all women, but the majority said marriage and politics were incompatible. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> With regard to the influence of fertility on women's participation in development, the data showed little or no difference between women with five or more children and women with fewer children. </blockquote> <font color="#8913b9" size="4">Recommendations</font> <blockquote> Because mothers-in-law value and promote large families -- and given their potential influence on younger women's reproductive decisions -- information, education and communications materials and programs should appeal to older and younger women. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Government and private sectors should consider ways to create a "safety net" for the elderly, thus reducing their dependence on adult children for financial and social support. Support for the older population will be especially important as HIV/AIDS continues to claim more young lives. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Fears of contraceptive side effects -- including concern about permanent infertility -- abound. Health providers should address these concerns by providing accurate information about contraceptive methods to women, men and other family members. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Child care should be available to women who want to continue their education or seek job training. <dl> <dd>&nbsp; </dl> Information and education programs should be developed to encourage and enable more women to become active in politics. Women's organizations could play a key role. </blockquote>