Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 12, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 551-558

The influence of patriarchal behavior on birth control access and use among recent hispanic immigrants (Review)

Gonzalez E.U. , Sable M.R. , Campbell J.D. , Dannerbeck A.
  • a Department of Rural Sociology, University of Missouri-Columbia, 5201 S Cowan Rd, Columbia, MO 65201, United States
  • b School of Social Work, University of Missouri-Columbia, 730 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
  • c Department of Family and Community Medicine, MA-306 Health Sciences Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
  • d School of Social Work, University of Missouri-Columbia, 730 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, United States

Abstract

It is commonly assumed that Hispanic immigrants in the United States subscribe to a patriarchal ideology that keeps women subordinated to men, often through violence and exploitative reproductive behaviors. If this assumption is true, we might expect to find that in the Hispanic culture patriarchal males control decision-making about access to and use of birth control. Structured interviews of 100 Hispanic men and 100 Hispanic women who were recent immigrants to a Midwest community were conducted to examine this assumption. Results did not support this assumption among this study population. We found no patriarchal ideology supporting women's subordination to men, violence as a mechanism of control, reproduction as a way of exploitation, or cultural influences discouraging access to and use of birth control in the Hispanic community. Rather, these immigrants revealed adequate knowledge of birth control use and positive perceptions of gender equality. Gaining a better understanding of the limited influence of patriarchal ideology on the use of birth control and family planning services among this Hispanic community may inform the development of family planning services tailored for new Hispanic immigrants. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

Patriarchy Violence against women Male control Hispanic immigrants Birth control Reproduction

Index Keywords

Missouri Dominance-Subordination human social dominance Hispanic Americans interview United States Humans Hispanic Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female Review Behavior Contraception adult migration Utilization Review Power (Psychology)
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77955982090&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-009-9272-5&partnerID=40&md5=d66ace2dd6aef23e3b9e11588877bd34
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-009-9272-5
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English