Reproductive politics and women's empowerment; how does geopolitics control women?
Reproductive politics lie at the intersection of gender, power, and governance, shaping women's autonomy through laws, policies, and cultural norms. Historically, colonialism and population control initiatives marginalized women, particularly in the Global South, fostering distrust in healthcare systems. Feminist movements advocate for reproductive justice, yet economic and nationalistic interests continue to influence access to care. Governments regulate reproduction to control demographics, labor markets, and national power. Pronatalist and antinatalist policies, such as China's One-Child Policy, have led to coercive interventions, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Reproductive politics also shape masculinity, fatherhood, and state-controlled family structures. Global reproductive policies reflect ideological struggles, from restrictive abortion laws in Poland and the U.S. to progressive approaches in Nepal and Vietnam. Socioeconomic barriers further limit access to contraception, maternal healthcare, and fertility treatments. Achieving reproductive justice requires inclusive policies, healthcare reform, and recognition of reproductive rights as fundamental to gender equality.
Authors
- Nirmala Rathnayake (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0666-2975)
- Gayathri Delanerolle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9628-9245)
- Om Kurmi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9518-4716)
- Vindya Pathiraja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3169-2280)
- Sohier Elneil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9047-5418)
- George Uchenna Eleje
- Peter Phiri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9950-3254)
- David Chibuike Ikwuka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1465-7033)
- Nhan Thi Nguyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4698-9275)
Institutions
- University of Ruhuna (LK)
- University of Jaffna (LK)
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NG)
- Isle of Wight NHS Trust (GB)
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (VN)
- University of Rwanda (RW)
- University College London (GB)
- Coventry University (GB)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Global Women s Health
- Published
- 2025-10-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1666773
- Primary Topic
- Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00