Reconceptualizing biomedical paradigms for contraceptive care through feminist poststructuralism

Kerry Marshall; Lydia Wytenbroek; Victoria Bungay; John Oliffe

doi:10.25071/2291-5796.172

Authors

Kerry Marshall University of British Columbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1327-0363
Lydia Wytenbroek University of British Columbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3265-328X
Vicky Bungay University of British Columbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6440-7182
John L. Oliffe University of British Columbia; University of Melbourne https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9029-4003

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/2291-5796.172

Keywords:

feminist poststructuralism, contraceptives, reproductive justice, sexual health, equity

Abstract

In the specificities of contraceptive care, sexual health is comprehensively defined as overall physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality, including experiences that are safe, pleasurable, and free of coercion. However, due to the predominance of biomedical paradigms that promote and espouse ‘unbiased’ and ‘objective’ contraceptive care practices, comprehensive, inclusive, and safe sexual health care remains limited. In this article, we argue that feminist poststructuralist knowledge is needed to reconceptualize sexual health care, ultimately promoting reproductive justice through social change and advancement of reproductive rights. We demonstrate how nursing as a discipline and profession can utilize feminist poststructuralist theoretical perspectives to challenge dominant discourses within contraceptive care and lead to the delivery of equity-owed contraceptive and sexual health care for cisgender women and people who can get pregnant.

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Author Biographies

Kerry Marshall, University of British Columbia

Kerry Marshall (she/her) is a white cisgender settler with reproductive potential. She is also a PhD candidate with research interests and experience in reproductive justice, sex and gender, and health equity.

Lydia Wytenbroek, University of British Columbia

Lydia Wytenbroek is a social historian of health and nursing, with interests in the history of medical racism, nursing imperialism, and the politics of health care. She is Co-Director of the Consortium for Nursing History Inquiry at UBC.

Vicky Bungay, University of British Columbia

Vicky Bungay’s research focuses on addressing inequities that negatively affect people’s health and well-being including the devastating effects of stigma, discrimination, and violence. She explores how research partnerships can positively impact communities that are excluded in health and social policy; programming that affects their lives; and how community-based interventions support real world evidence.

John L. Oliffe, University of British Columbia; University of Melbourne

John L. Oliffe is the founder and lead investigator of UBC’s Men’s Health Research program (www.menshealthresearch.ubc.ca). He focuses on masculinities as it influences men’s health behaviours and illness management, and its impact on partners, families and overall life quality.