The Gynaecologist's Gaze: The Inconsistent Medicalisation of Contraception in Contemporary Russia

This essay discusses the medicalisation of contraception by gynaecologists in present-day Russia. I explore the disciplining discourse and tactics of gynaecologists as experts who aim to orient women towards properly planned and prepared pregnancy. Gynaecologists are important agents of reproductive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEurope-Asia studies Vol. 67; no. 10; pp. 1527 - 1546
Main Author Temkina, Anna
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Routledge 26.11.2015
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Birth control
Experts
Females
Gynecology
Health care policy
Medical personnel
Medical treatment
Physicians
Pregnancy
Regulation
Reproductive health
Russia
Studies
Russia
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Summary:This essay discusses the medicalisation of contraception by gynaecologists in present-day Russia. I explore the disciplining discourse and tactics of gynaecologists as experts who aim to orient women towards properly planned and prepared pregnancy. Gynaecologists are important agents of reproductive control because they instruct women in detail about reproductive health and contraception. However, these disciplining medical discourses and professional practices are characterised by inconsistency. In accordance with the demographic priorities of the state, doctors are more oriented towards pregnancy treatment than consultation on contraception, and they are inconsistent in their regulation of contraceptive use. This biopolitical regime reflects the demographic priorities of the Russian state-to increase the population of Russia-and the role of women as the primary objects of this policy.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0966-8136
1465-3427
DOI:10.1080/09668136.2015.1100371