Exploring the sexual and reproductive health of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women in Toronto, Ontario

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation, comprised of four papers, explores the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women in Toronto, Ontario. The “1.5 generation” refers to those who immigrated to the destination country as children. The cross-cultural positionality of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women has implications for their SRH as they navigate different cultural norms of their country of origin and destination. The objectives of this dissertation were to gain an understanding of the different dimensions of SRH of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women, and the scope and nature of SRH interventions targeting young women in Canada. Narrative inquiry and scoping review methods were employed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women aged 18-22, and peer-reviewed and grey literature were analyzed to collate evidence on SRH interventions targeting young women. Paper One explored the state and determinants of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) knowledge of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women, and their experiences with school-based sex education in Canada. Findings showed that SRHR knowledge formation is a multidimensional, dynamic process whereby social identities (e.g., ethnicity, gender) intersect and operate within a larger social context. Paper Two investigated participants’ SRH-related help-seeking behaviours and perspectives and experiences with SRH services. The results underscored the influence of social and cultural factors on help-seeking behaviours and the barriers and facilitators in accessing SRH services. Paper Three explored participants’ dating practices in the context of the sociocultural restrictions around pre-marital relationships. The findings offer a nuanced understanding of the dating practices of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women and the implications for access to SRH services. Finally, Paper Four revealed gaps in SRH programming for young South Asian women in Canada. Overall, this dissertation contributes to the sociological health literature by providing rich data on the SRH of 1.5-generation Bangladeshi women and highlighting gaps in education, services and programming.