The impact of gender and hierarchy on women's reproductive health in a Kam village, Guizhou Province, China

This paper explores the power hierarchies that shape the reproductive health of Kam village women with the purpose of identifying key potential causes of reproductive morbidity. The analysis is based on one year's fieldwork undertaken in a minority ethnic village in Guizhou in southwest China. Data from women's narratives reveal the ways in which power hierarchies, including the sex/gender system, shape daily life, dominance and resistance as well as actual health outcomes. Findings demonstrate how the sex/ gender system intersects with other aspects of the village hierarchy, and how both affect villagers' reproductive decisions and reproductive health. Suggestions are offered on how to improve women's sexual and reproductive health in Kam areas.