Fertility, Identity, & Social Value

Fertility, Identity, & Social Value The Kisii District of Kenya

I. Introduction Reproduction and Sexuality are social and cultural processes Sexuality and Fertility are important parts of how gender is constructed

II. Fertility Patterns in Present Day Kisii • Birth Rates in Kisii are among highest in Kenya • Women want more children than men • Women never admit how many children they want • Could be accused of arrogance or boasting • Children have become an economic burden

Modifying Fertility Strategies • When a man fails to pay brideprice • When a man takes an additional wife • When wife goes to a new husband

III. Traditional Fertility Beliefs and Values • Religious beliefs and practices related to desire for large families • Fertility - good, right, and proper behavior • Infertility -- evil and wickedness • Many wives and children were a major ambition for men • Gave social value and respect • Bridewealth exchanged for childbearing

Three Basic Principles of Fertility • A woman should bear children as early as possible and for as long as possible • Men should invest all wealth possible to procure childbearing wives • Children born out of wedlock always found a man willing to claim them as legal father

Fertility is a Blessing • Extend social relations • Fight in feuds • Herd cattle • Extra hands in the field • Security in old age

IV. Traditional Family Planning • Husband to stay away during nursing • Natural herbs for women • Specific foods to reduce sexual appetite for men

V. Fertility in Kisii Today • Circumcision rituals put a strong emphasis on male and female fertility • Social value is directly related to married women giving birth early and regularly • Fatherhood is fundamental to the identity of men • Faithfulness is not as important as fertility

The Value of Children • Men and women agree that children have become an economic burden • Lower access to land increases desire for education • Kisii birthrates are still high • Large number of children doesn’t make sense • Large numbers of children are still desirable

VII. Fertility and the Consequences for Men and Women • Raising children is an exclusively female domain • Women bear the burdens & health risks of giving birth • Strenuous daily life • Food scarcity • Frequent anemia • Inadequate health services

VIII. Modern Family Planning in Kisii • Contraception choice is limited • Until 1990 -- mainly pills • Depo Provera and Noristerad • IUDs were unpopular • Until 1980s, husband’s approval was required • For sterilization, signature is still required

IX. Women’s Reasons for Use of Modern Contraceptives • Knowledge of methods high • Acceptance is low • With bridewealth paid, more likely to use it • Use of Contraceptives • Enough Children • Pregnancies are a burden • Longer intervals between births

Magnitude of Problems that Women Face • Rise in female-headed households • Unstable relationships • Elopements • Little bridewealth transfer • Men failing in their economic responsibilities • Increasing workloads • Increasing pressure on the land

X. Women’s Reasons for not Using Contraceptives • Rumors about side effects • Want children for security in old age • Problems at local clinics • Quality of services is poor • Staff is overburdened • Priority given to acute health problems

XI. Male Attitudes • Men agree with family planning and modern contraceptives -- for their neighbor’s wife • Fear that wives would “roam” or that families would break up • Negative side effects for women • Undermines a man’s authority • Averse to using condoms

XII. Identity, Social Value, and Fertility • A man’s identity is rooted in his ability to control his wife’s fertility • Social change and modern contraception have challenged this control • Social value linked to having many children • Fathering children compensates for lack of prestige-giving roles • Educating and feeding his children

Women Use their Fertility Strategically • As a means of pressure when no bridewealth • Prevent husband from taking a second wife • Gain access to his economic resources

Fertility, Identity, & Social Value