Recorded presentation

Catherine Maternowska, PhD, MPH, Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 2000 O Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 440-8803, maternowska@obgyn.ucsf.edu

This paper addresses the relationship between gender, power, culture, and the reproductive health of Mexican immigrants to California. Data are utilized from the Gender, Power, Culture and Reproductive Health study in California, which explores reproduction in the context of Mexican male and female family planning clients’ and non-clients’ lives. This study focuses on male respondents, including survey data (n=160) and in-depth interviews (n=23).

We find that in survey responses, Mexican immigrant men appear to hold moderately egalitarian views about decision-making in the relationship. However, qualitative data suggest a more nuanced representation of men’s views of relationship power. Fatherhood is strongly tied to the male identity, and for most men, use of contraception did not occur until after they had already had at least one child. Men may adopt contraception only after experiencing fatherhood and maturing enough to think about future plans and consequences of larger families. Family planning, including condom use, was distinctly associated with different levels of commitment and the type of sexual encounter. Men expressed that the more committed the relationship, the less necessary family planning was, especially if family size was still small. In general men suggest that they do not use condoms with casual partners or girlfriends because they do not see the same risk for disease with these partners as they do with sex workers. Overall, Mexican men interviewed in this study accept both the notion & practice of family planning.

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