Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research

Introduction: Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of gender-based violence that has gathered attention from the scientific community and policymakers for some years. It can take the form of contraceptive sabotage, pressure related to pregnancy outcomes, insistence on motherhood, or even forced sterilization. RC is employed by a partner, family members or in-laws to enforce a specific reproductive path on a woman. Apart from physical force and material deprivation, perpetrators use also symbolic violence, with recurrent frequency and cumulative effects. This aspect deserves further examination to enhance our understanding of RC and to better inform and prevent it.

Goals and Methods: Drawing on the concepts of coercive control on one hand and social dynamics of appropriation on the other, this paper aims to shed light on the mystified discourses employed by perpetrators in a way that leads victims to internalize them, thereby submitting to others' reproductive will. From 2021 to 2023, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 women (9 Canadian-born and 9 immigrants) identifying as RC victims within intimate or family contexts. After anonymizing the transcription of the interviews, we conducted a thematic analysis, followed by an complementary ideal-typical analysis.

Results: The results demonstrate the use of symbolic strategies such as seduction, projection, questioning, or coercion, as well as the emergence of figures elevated to the status of myths to persuade victims to give in. Among these figures, several will be presented, such as the "sacrificial matrix" or the "selfish careerist." Given the diversity of the sample, particular attention will be paid to an intersectional reading of the data.

Conclusion: While it remains challenging for victims to recognize RC, these findings can guide a better understanding of the power dynamics involved. This presentation will show how the qualitative approach refines situational knowledge and deepens our interpretation of this evolving phenomenon.