In short:
Reproductive coercion is when someone else tries to control your reproductive choices using pressure, manipulation, or even physical force. It can happen in relationships, with family, or through doctors, but everyone deserves the right to decide what happens to their own body.
Learn what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing reproductive coercion.
Taking a condom off during sex without the other person’s consent. Pressuring a partner to get pregnant. A healthcare provider telling someone they will regret it if they have an abortion. Hiding or tampering with someone’s contraception. A guardian forcing the person in their care to undergo forced sterilisation – these are all examples of reproductive coercion.
When someone is deliberately interfering with or controlling another person’s reproductive choices, this is known as reproductive coercion. Sometimes it is also called reproductive abuse or reproductive control.
It can involve physical violence, but not always. Non-physical forms of violence, such as a verbal threats, pressure, or manipulation, can also be used to try and control another person’s reproductive autonomy. Either way, it is never okay and everyone deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies.
Reproductive coercion can come from a range of different places, including:
- current or ex-partners
- casual hookups
- family members
- carers or paid support workers
- health care professionals
- laws and policies – such as those that stop someone from accessing sexual and reproductive services.
Who experiences reproductive coercion?
Anybody can experience reproductive coercion.
However, research tells us that women are more likely to experience reproductive coercion. This can be linked to different factors, such as:
- the ability to become pregnant and carry a child
- social expectations – like the responsibility for taking birth control often falling on women
- harmful gender norms about who gets to make decisions in a relationship.
We also know that people experiencing marginalisation, disability, financial hardship, or other forms of gendered or sexual violence may be at greater risk of experiencing reproductive coercion.
What does reproductive coercion look like?
There are many behaviours related to reproductive coercion. It can look like:
- pressuring someone to become pregnant, or forcing them to get an abortion
- pressuring someone into not being able to get pregnant (forced sterilisation)
- forcing someone to have unprotected sex
- stopping someone from using birth control, including the pill, condoms or emergency contraception
- deliberately passing on a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- stopping someone from accessing sexual health information or services such as STI screening, breast and cervical cancer.
It can be hard to identify reproductive coercion – especially when it involves someone close to you.
For example, if your partner is constantly talking about having a baby while you’re not sure whether you wish to become pregnant. It’s normal to have serious conversations and different perspectives on significant life matters – this isn’t always coercion. However, if you have made it clear that you don’t want to carry a child, but your partner continues to try to make you change your mind – this can be a red flag.
Reproductive coercion can also appear in less obvious ways. For example, someone you’ve been seeing for a while constantly asking you to have unprotected sex, even though they know you’re not comfortable is a sign that your boundaries and desires are not being respected.
How common is reproductive coercion?
Studies by Australian family planning organisations show that anywhere between 2 – 15% of their clients surveyed have experienced reproductive coercion.
However, it isn’t consistently measured. As reproductive coercion can also show up in different ways, people may also not be aware of what it is or that it has happened to them.
It is also not uncommon for people to experience other forms of intimate partner or family violence at the same time as reproductive coercion.
Is reproductive coercion a red flag?
Reproductive coercion is a form of family violence and a red flag for further abusive behaviours. Whether it’s physical, verbal or emotional – any action or intention to harm your ability to make informed decisions about your body is a sign to reflect on your relationship and whether it is healthy for you.
Reproductive coercion limits your sense of safety and autonomy, and can impact your health.
Where can I get support?
If you or someone you know is experiencing reproductive coercion, or just needs more help understanding it, help is available:
- 1800 My Options provides free and confidential information about sexual health services, abortions, pregnancy options and contraception
- Children by Choice has helpful suggestions of phrases you can use when talking about reproductive coercion
- 1800RESPECT provides information about reproductive coercion and a broad range of confidential support services for intimate partner, family, and sexual violence
It’s important to create a safe and judgement free space for people to talk about reproductive coercion. It can take time for someone to recognise they are experiencing this form of abuse, even if the people around them are already seeing red flags.
Prioritise listening to and believing your friend or loved one – make it clear that you care and will be there for them in the ways they ask. Everyone has the right to make informed decisions about their own body and reproductive health, free from pressure, fear or control.
Across Australia, violence in intimate relationships can take many forms are obvious, some not so much. . What often comes to mind is physical violence, or sexual violence – something that is much easier to categorise as “not OK”. But that type of behaviour typically doesn’t just appear. It usually follows coercion and controlling behaviours–that can break down a person’s boundaries, instincts and self-esteem that can erode a person’s independence, autonomy and judgement.
This post is part of a series getting to know the common types of non-physical violence against women in intimate relationships (red flags), how to spot the warning signs, and how to look out for yourself and your friends.