The discourses of the female body in rural Bangladesh illustrate gender relations in rural society and the degree to which village ideologies of shame, purity, and pollution affect women’s attitudes toward contraceptive practices. Women’s understanding of their body and perception of flow, buildup, and blockage related to Norplant use reveal a belief in the disruption of the internal state of the body. Humeral notions underlie descriptions of Norplant use, which are understood to agree with women differently. Bengalis believe that blockage in the body can endanger the wider social and moral sphere. Culturally promoted fears of illnesses motivate individuals to conform to social norms. Some rural women chose to ignore their health problems, some dropped out, and some preferred Norplant.
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