Contradictions of Choice: A policy analysis on the representation of reproductive choice within Rwanda's sexual and reproductive health and rights policies
(2024) STVK12 20241Department of Political Science
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Threats to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally are evident. The framing of SRHR within policy is vital, as it yields value for the advancement of women’s SRHR. While Rwanda has adopted numerous policies on SRHR, many women are yet to experience gains. Through a qualitative single case study this thesis scrutinizes how reproductive choice is represented in Rwanda’s SRHR-policies, and what limitations such representation entail. Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be?” is utilized to perform discourse analysis, and operates both as a methodological approach and a theoretical framework. Reproductive justice is utilized as a theoretical framework, interpreting the findings of this study. This thesis... (More)
- Threats to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally are evident. The framing of SRHR within policy is vital, as it yields value for the advancement of women’s SRHR. While Rwanda has adopted numerous policies on SRHR, many women are yet to experience gains. Through a qualitative single case study this thesis scrutinizes how reproductive choice is represented in Rwanda’s SRHR-policies, and what limitations such representation entail. Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be?” is utilized to perform discourse analysis, and operates both as a methodological approach and a theoretical framework. Reproductive justice is utilized as a theoretical framework, interpreting the findings of this study. This thesis identifies four representations, which problematize reproductive choice, and pertain to limited access, lack information and knowledge, deep-rooted social norms, and insufficient innovation and technology. Following such, underlying assumptions perceive women as belonging to one homogeneous group, as responsible actors, and as passive recipients. A fourth assumption identified originates from aspirations concerning development and growth. The limitations of such representation entail those aspects that go unproblematized, namely the notion of viewing women homogeneously, the contradicting nature of framing women as both responsible and passive, as well as the high degree of politicization of SRHR. While women are viewed as homogenous and passive, they are nonetheless also viewed as responsible and as well as valuable for the country’s long-term development trajectory. Such inconsistencies can in itself be seen as an additional limitation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9156417
- author
- Gullstrand, Filippa LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- STVK12 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- women, Rwanda, SRHR, policy, WPR-approach, reproductive choice, reproductive justice
- language
- English
- id
- 9156417
- date added to LUP
- 2024-07-18 13:52:46
- date last changed
- 2024-07-18 13:52:46
@misc{9156417, abstract = {{Threats to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally are evident. The framing of SRHR within policy is vital, as it yields value for the advancement of women’s SRHR. While Rwanda has adopted numerous policies on SRHR, many women are yet to experience gains. Through a qualitative single case study this thesis scrutinizes how reproductive choice is represented in Rwanda’s SRHR-policies, and what limitations such representation entail. Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be?” is utilized to perform discourse analysis, and operates both as a methodological approach and a theoretical framework. Reproductive justice is utilized as a theoretical framework, interpreting the findings of this study. This thesis identifies four representations, which problematize reproductive choice, and pertain to limited access, lack information and knowledge, deep-rooted social norms, and insufficient innovation and technology. Following such, underlying assumptions perceive women as belonging to one homogeneous group, as responsible actors, and as passive recipients. A fourth assumption identified originates from aspirations concerning development and growth. The limitations of such representation entail those aspects that go unproblematized, namely the notion of viewing women homogeneously, the contradicting nature of framing women as both responsible and passive, as well as the high degree of politicization of SRHR. While women are viewed as homogenous and passive, they are nonetheless also viewed as responsible and as well as valuable for the country’s long-term development trajectory. Such inconsistencies can in itself be seen as an additional limitation.}}, author = {{Gullstrand, Filippa}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Contradictions of Choice: A policy analysis on the representation of reproductive choice within Rwanda's sexual and reproductive health and rights policies}}, year = {{2024}}, }