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[quote=Anonymous]An interesting part of the study :

Black and White women noticeably differed in how they described men's and women's roles in sexual health decision making. Black women described a greater reliance on male partners in contraceptive decision making relative to White women, which may facilitate or normalize RC behavior. Reliance and transfer of power may be hinged on low sex ratios among Blacks relative to other racial/ethnic groups that encourage competing sexual partnerships (Adimora et al., 2013). Also discussed was subfertility stated by Black men. Additional research should include the perspectives of men and women and begin to distinguish medically diagnosed infertility from deception and lack of reproductive health knowledge.

Gender Roles in Reproductive Decision Making
Sex scripts or norms around reproductive responsibility varied by race/ethnicity in the context of IPV and sexual experiences. Among Black women, RC and dependency on male partners to decide on pregnancy prevention and provide financial support influenced attitudes about pregnancy. White women discussed hopelessness and responsibility of the female partner to prevent pregnancy.

In the following narratives, two Black women described contrasting influences of their male partner's financial stability in their acceptance of becoming pregnant. First, in the presence of RC, a 27-year-old Black woman described, “He was the one who wanted a kid. He actually threw my birth control away…I knew there was a possibility of getting pregnant but I wasn't expecting to get pregnant because I wasn't ready at that age. But he was there to provide and everything so I didn't have to worry about my kid not being taken care of or anything like that.” When another women, age 18, was asked about the use of contraception at first sex she replied, “None, I didn't do anything, that was just all him. I never had sex—first time was just, okay, alright, this is something new, I guess I'll try. But I guess we used the pullout method, or—one day he told me he did. I was like why would you—why do you want me—why do you want this [pregnancy]? I don't have a job; you're not even working, like” (age 18).

One 27-year-old Black woman discussed her desire to become pregnant and how this affected her perceptions regarding male responsibility for condom use:

He knew the consequences, he slipped up and didn't pull out twice and we went to the pharmacy and he got me the, whatever the pill… The third time I told him, no I'm not doing that because I want a kid, you already got a kid,… So he's responsible, he got a good job. Like he's responsible enough to take care of his responsibilities, but he just didn't want another kid. So if he ever does it again, I ain't getting the pill, I want a kid, I'm getting old.

She later described, “So I always let it be known, if you don't wanna use protection, if that's what we decide to do, just know if I end up getting pregnant, that's your responsibility.” None of the White participants mentioned this approach to pregnancy.

Instead, White women described experiences of UIP in relation to hopelessness, lack of control to enact reproductive and sexual decision making, and the responsibility of the female partner to prevent pregnancy. One White woman said that severe abuse that resulted in hopelessness shaped her destiny. In response to learning that she was raped by her partner while sleeping, she described, “I just accepted that this is my destiny to be a wife, mother, whatever. I feel like I was kind of brainwashed. If it would have happened, I don't think I would have cared. I mean I—I didn't think much about having a future” (age 25). When asked how she feels when condoms are not used another woman added, “It doesn't really bother me but I know I probably should use it [condom] because he does have 2 kids. He has 2 kids already, and then, I don't know if like—what our relationship will be like later on down the line, but that would be kind of messed up on my part to just be irresponsible and have a kid” (age 24).[/quote]

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