M.E. Khan, PhD, Population Council, Population Council, India, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, 91-11-24610913, mekhan@pcindia.org and John W. Townsend, PhD, Frontiers in Reproductive Health, Population Council, 4301 Connecticut Ave., N.W, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008.

This paper based on 237 in-depth interviews of married women and women (156 women and 71men)demonstrate how gender roles control sexuality and reproductive behaviour of men and women . The data was collected by trained social scientists, spread over six months. Issues covered include initiation of sexual life, husband wife communication on family planning and reproductive goals, sexual behaviour including contraception, decision-making process in family and sexual violence. The paper identifies variation in behaviour among different groups and the factors contributing to such variation The paper demonstrates that gender not only plays a critical role in defining sexual relationships but also helps in maintaining dual standards of behaviour for men and women. One important mechanism to control women's sexuality is to deny their access to information related to sexuality. Majority of girls at the time of their marriage have only a vague or no knowledge of the sexual life in which they enter after marriage. Even after marriage initiation of sex is a husband prerogative. Though men in general are supportive to contraception, the decision to adopt family planning and its timing is largely control by men. The lack of knowledge of women about STI/AIDS, men sexual adventures and lack of control of women to their body and sexuality, exposes them adverse consequences such as unwanted pregnancy and STD/AIDS infection. In the last section paper discuss the space provided by the prevailing value system for possible interventions and addressing to the gender equality and sexual heath of men and women.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate the dynamics and process how social structure influence and shape gender role and helps in perpetuating gender inequality in all sphere of life including sexuality and contraception .

Keywords: Sexual Behavior, Gender

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Population Council
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.