Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Power and negotiation: Young women’s choices about sex and contraception

  • Published:
Journal of the Australian Population Association Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores issues of power and negotiation for two decisions affecting young women’s sexual lives: die decision to have sexual intercourse and the decision to contracept. Using data from two recent Australian surveys the paper explores the complexity of these decisions and the way in which gender relations between young people can influence dieir reproductive outcomes; young women experience a high rate of sexual coercion and violence and current data collections do not allow analysis of their cause.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott-Chapman, Joan and Carey Denholm. 1997. Adolescent risk taking and the romantic ethic: HIV/AIDS awareness among year 11 and 12 students.Australia and New Zealand Journal of Sociology 33(3):306–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amaro, H. 1995. Love, sex and power.American Psychologist 60(6):437–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amaro, H. and I. Gornemann. 1992.HIV/AIDS-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors among Hispanics: Report of Findings and Recommendations. Boston: Boston University School of Public Health and Northeast Hispanic AIDS Consortium.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryson, Lois, Stefani Strazzari and Wendy Brown. 1999. Shaping families: women, control and contraception.Family Matters 53: 31–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Adolescent Health. 1997. http://www.vicnet.netau/vicnet/health/AHS1992.html. Parkville: Date accessed: 2 March 1997.

  • Charlesworth, W. and C. Dzur. 1987. Gender comparisons of pre-schoolers’ behavior and resource utilization in group problem-solving.Child Development 58: 191–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cubis, Jeffrey, Angela Cowan and Terry Lewin. 1986. Sexual experience, attitudes and decision making in Australian adolescent females. Pp.31–42 in L. Dennerstein and I. Fraser (eds),Hormones and Behaviour: Proceedings of the 8th International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne, 10–14 March 1986. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunne, Michael, Maria Donald, Jayne Lucke, Robyn Nilsson and Beverly Raphael. 1993.1992 HIV Risk and Sexual Behaviour Survey in Australian Secondary Schools. Canberra: Department of Health, Housing and Community Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, Anke. 1992. Trends in sexual behaviour and the HIV pandemic.American Journal of Public Health 82(11):1459–1461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, A. and J. Wasserheit. 1991. Age, gender and sexual risk behaviors for sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Pp.97–121 in J. Wasserheit, S. Aral, K. Holmes and P. Hitchcock (eds),Research Issues in Human Behavior and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the AIDS Era. Washington DC: American Society for Microbiology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elo, Irma, Rosalind King and Frank Furstenberg. 1999. Adolescent females: their sexual partners and the fathers of their children,Journal of Marriage and the Family 61:74–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, Ann. 1999.Young Women’s Pregnancy Survey, 1998. Computer file. Canberra: The Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullilove, M., R. Fullilove, K. Haynes and S. Gross. 1990. Black women and AIDS prevention: a view towards understanding the gender rules.Journal of Sex Research 27: 47–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golding, Steve and Brook Friedman. 1997.Guys Talk Too: Improving Young Men’s Sexual Health. Adelaide: SHine SA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, R. and J. Goldman. 1988.Show Me Yours: Understanding Children’s Sexuality. Melbourne: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, Darren. 2000. Many girls forced to have sex: report.The Age (Melbourne):26 April.

  • Grinstead, O., B. Kegeles, E. Binson and R. Eversley. 1993. Women’s sexual risk for HIV: the National AIDS Behavioral Surveys.Family Planning Perspectives 6: 252–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, Janet, Caroline Ramazanoglu, Sue Scott, Sue Sharpe and Rachel Thomson. 1994. Methodological issues in researching young women’s sexuality. Pp.219–239 in M. Boulton (ed.),Challenge and Innovation: Methodological Advances in Social Research on HIV/AIDS. London: Taylor and Francis Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, Francis and Bernard Ineichen. 1991.Taking It Lying Down: Sexuality and Teenage Motherhood. London: Macmillan Education Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaccard, J. and P. Dittus. 1991.Parent-teen Communication: Toward the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancies. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jaccard, James, Patricia J. Dittus and Vivian V. Gordon. 1996. Maternal correlates of adolescent sexual and contraceptive behavior.Family Planning Perspective 28(4):159–165, 185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, Joan, Ronald Rindfuss and David Guilkey. 1990. Adolescent contraceptive method choices.Demography 27(3):323–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, Hans-Peter. 1997. Learning in social networks and contraceptive choice.Demography 34(3):369–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lees, Sue. 1993.Sugar and Spice: Sexuality and Adolescent Girls. London: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, Jo, Anthony Smith and Doreen Rosenthal. 1997a.National Survey of Australian Secondary Students, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health. Computer file. Canberra: Social Science Data Archives, The Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, Jo, Anthony Smith and Doreen Rosenthal. 1997b.Secondary Students, HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health 1997. Carlton: Centre for the Study of Sexually Transmissible Diseases, La Trobe University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luker, Kristin. 1975.Taking Chances: Abortion and the Decision Not to Contracept. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luker, Kristin. 1977. Contraceptive risk taking and abortion: results and implications of a San Francisco bay area study.Studies in Family Planning 8(8):190–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, Eleanor E. 1988. Gender as a social category.Developmental Psychology 24(6):755–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meekers, Dominique and Ghyasuddin Ahmed. 1997.Pregnancy-related School Dropouts in Botswana. Working Paper No. 1. Washington DC: Population Services International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meekers, Dominique and Anne-Emmanuele Calves. 1997.‘Main’ Girlfriends, Girlfriends, Marriage, and Money.

  • Working Paper No. 5. Washington DC: Population Services International.

  • Moore, S., D. Rosenthal and A. Mitchell. 1996.Youth, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J., F. Sonestein and L. Ku. 1993. Masculinity ideology: its impact on adolescent males’ heterosexual relationships.Journal of Social Issues 49(3):11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, Margaret J. 1988. Contraception in the adolescent.Patient Management 12(7):51–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisman, Carol S., Stacey Plichta, Constance Nathanson, Gary Chase, Margaret Ensminger and J. Courtland Robinson. 1991a. Adolescent women’s contraceptive decision making.Journal of Health and Social Behavior 32(2):130–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisman, Carol S., Stacey Plichta, Constance A. Nathanson, Margaret Ensminger and J. Courtland Robinson. 1991b. Consistency of condom use for disease prevention among adolescent users of oral contraceptives.Family Planning Perspectives 23(2):71–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, Jill. 1988. Adolescent sexuality and sexism.Bulletin of the National Clearinghouse for Youth Studies 7(2):31–35.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Demography Program, Research School of Social Sciences, The Australian National University, ACT 0200, Canberra, Australia

    Ann Evans

Authors
  1. Ann Evans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ann Evans.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Evans, A. Power and negotiation: Young women’s choices about sex and contraception. Journal of Population Research 17, 143–162 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029462

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029462

Keywords

Search

Navigation