In this decade, Thai society is undergoing a significant transformation, namely becoming an aging society. With declining birth rates, contrary to the increasing statistics of teenage mothers, and with important questions about birth and quality of life in Thai society, the issue of unintended pregnancies and births are inseparably linked, especially when viewed from the perspective of reproductive health rights. However, the great difficulty in understanding the issue of unintended pregnancies and births is that women’s bodies are battlegrounds for too many ideologies, starting from…
The ideology of sexuality that rigidly dictates practices, such as allowing it only within the institution of marriage at an appropriate age and in heterosexual relationships, etc.
The ideology of male dominance that accepts the influence of men in determining the course of social life more than women, even when it concerns women’s own bodies.
The ideology of the perfect family that creates a value system emphasizing birth and having children, while ignoring the intention/unintention of pregnancy or the readiness/unreadiness of women to conceive.
These are fundamental factors in decision-making. Many women have to sacrifice their desires, go against their intentions, change their lives, endure, and struggle in every way throughout their lives just to be a good wife and mother, to have a warm and complete family, and
The ideology of reproductive health rights which, although still a new set of ideas in Thai society that brings rights to the forefront instead of duties and roles to be performed, seems to be the only hope for the fight for women’s rights to decide on their sexual lives and determine their own reproductive health.
Under the scrutiny of eyes ready to judge what kind of pregnancy is considered correct and legitimate, and what kind is inappropriate, terminating a pregnancy for any reason must be exchanged with a lifelong mental penalty. The high value placed on birth, while ignoring the quality of life of both the mother and the child born from an unintended pregnancy, raises important demographic questions…
How can the birth of the population in Thai society be of quality, from intended pregnancies and from ready families, if women are not allowed to express their intention to be pregnant or not, and are not allowed to have choices in deciding to manage their own reproductive lives?
Source: Unintended Pregnancy, Births, and Reproductive Rights
By Associate Professor Dr. Kritaya Archavanitkul and Kulapa Watanasara
Read the full article here: https://choicesforum.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/unintended-pregnancy-births-and-reproductive-rights.pdf