Family Planning (In)Activity - A Case Study of Women and Men’s Role and Responsibility on Family Planning in Metro Manila, the Philippines

Abstract: Having access to family planning (FP) services is a cornerstone for economic and social development. Because of reproductive health disparities between income groups, progressive policies have been passed in the Philippines to reduce the gaps. One example is the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health act that provides people living in poverty with FP services. Moreover, it attempts to promote responsible parenthood, which involves both mothers and fathers. By interviewing 16 women and men, residing in two poor urban communities in Metro Manila, this thesis set out to explore their respective role and responsibilities in matters concerning FP. The findings demonstrate a gendered division of roles and responsibilities where women bear the main responsibility in preventing pregnancies while men lack concern, which corresponds and adds to the literature on the field. Using concepts of power, gender norms and roles, and agency this thesis argues that constructed gender norms and roles inform women and men on how to be involved in FP. Despite the sample size, the findings direct attention to prevailing power structures that not only burden mothers but also impede fathers from getting informed and from becoming responsible fathers.