Why women-centred reproductive health?

In the history of population policies women have been viewed typically in one of three ways. 1) The narrowest is the view of women as "principal targets" as sites for reproductive manipulation through contraceptive technology. The earlier view that emerged in the population establishment was a narrow one where "objectification" of womens bodies was accomplished by a non-recognition of women as social subjects. 2) The second view which has gained currency views women as "instruments" capabilities in managing child care and childrens health which could be enhanced through greater education. "Although it is one step away from objectification women have been perceived as a means to a demographic end with their own health and reproductive needs becoming incidental to the process. The attention given to womens education has not triggered-off a fuller consideration of the conditions under which the education of girls takes hold in society therefore the extent to which education is embedded within larger social processes and structures are ignored." (Gita Sen) 3) A third view which grew in the 1980s focused on maternal mortality as an important health justification for family planning culminating in The Safe Motherhood Initiative sponsored by the World Health Organization. (full text)