Dynamics of Gender Role and Sexual & Reproductive Rights of Rural Young Women: Evidence from Jharkhand, India

The study reveals that merely one-tenth of the young women have comprehensive knowledge about sexual and reproductive rights. A sizable number of them have experienced domestic violence as well as non-consensual marital sex. Women not only have a little say in contraceptive decision making but also, half of them are unaware of the other contraceptive methods before adopting any specific method. The qualitative data reveals that the women succumb to the traditionally expected gendered role of 'real woman' often resulting into adverse reproductive health outcomes such as unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and psychological stress, owing to domestic violence, marital discord, tension to natal family, economically dependence status, and gendered socialization. As the young women are in a disadvantageous position in almost all fronts of sexual and reproductive rights, special emphasis ought to be laid on them in every program, which should lead to gender equity.