In recent decades, we have experienced substantial progress in the identification and recognition of rights in sexual and reproductive health from international organizations. The World Association For Sexology (1994) almost 30 years ago, established that sexual and reproductive health consists of a state of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, and not only the absence of disease, dysfunction, or weakness. This respectful and positive approach to people implies, on the one hand, the possibility of having pleasant and safe sexual relations, free of risks, coercion, discrimination, and violence. On the other hand, it implies the freedom to make decisions about the functions and processes related to the reproductive system (procreation, pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium), in the absence of coercion, discrimination, and violence. This change in perspective meant a shift in our understanding of sexual and reproductive health, new guidelines for states in search of the well-being of their citizens.
Currently, we live in a time of legislative changes in many countries, aimed at promoting these rights. However, advances in sexual and reproductive health are opposed at the institutional and community level with traditional and conservative value tendencies that characterize many sociocultural scenarios, marking the socially expected and accepted behavior. This clash of visions can lead to confrontations at the institutional and community level, and also at the group and individual level, and in discriminatory and violent treatment. In this Research Topic, we are interested in addressing this confrontation, and its consequences for those people who, due to their condition, choice, or personal situation, defy the normative standards of their community in sexual and reproductive matters. In addition, we want to pay special attention here to the phenomena that take place within health systems, as they are the leading space in health promotion. Thus, some of the issues that could be addressed within this framework are
(1) Structural violence and intergroup conflicts in matters of sexual and reproductive health;
(2) Coercion in the process of pregnancy and expression of sexuality;
(3) Obstetric violence, discriminatory treatment, and conscientious objection in health professionals;
(4) Stigma regarding sexual and reproductive health and discriminatory treatment.
Some other themes to be covered include:
• degrading treatment by health professionals towards people with sexually transmitted diseases;
• HIV stigma;
• cultural norms that limit the expression of sexuality in heteronormative and non-heteronormative men and women;
• policies that coerce the expression of sexuality;
• degrading or violent treatment by the community, groups that defend conservative and traditional values, and health professionals due to the expression of sexuality;
• the stress on sexual minorities;
• policies that limit the self-determination of women against the voluntary termination of pregnancy;
• degrading or violent treatment by the community and groups that defend conservative and traditional values due to the exercise of reproductive rights;
• obstetric violence;
• abortion stigma.
We are interested in A and B Type Articles, especially: Original Research; Systematic Review; Policy and Practice Reviews; Hypothesis and Theory; Brief Research Report; Community Case Study
In recent decades, we have experienced substantial progress in the identification and recognition of rights in sexual and reproductive health from international organizations. The World Association For Sexology (1994) almost 30 years ago, established that sexual and reproductive health consists of a state of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, and not only the absence of disease, dysfunction, or weakness. This respectful and positive approach to people implies, on the one hand, the possibility of having pleasant and safe sexual relations, free of risks, coercion, discrimination, and violence. On the other hand, it implies the freedom to make decisions about the functions and processes related to the reproductive system (procreation, pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium), in the absence of coercion, discrimination, and violence. This change in perspective meant a shift in our understanding of sexual and reproductive health, new guidelines for states in search of the well-being of their citizens.
Currently, we live in a time of legislative changes in many countries, aimed at promoting these rights. However, advances in sexual and reproductive health are opposed at the institutional and community level with traditional and conservative value tendencies that characterize many sociocultural scenarios, marking the socially expected and accepted behavior. This clash of visions can lead to confrontations at the institutional and community level, and also at the group and individual level, and in discriminatory and violent treatment. In this Research Topic, we are interested in addressing this confrontation, and its consequences for those people who, due to their condition, choice, or personal situation, defy the normative standards of their community in sexual and reproductive matters. In addition, we want to pay special attention here to the phenomena that take place within health systems, as they are the leading space in health promotion. Thus, some of the issues that could be addressed within this framework are
(1) Structural violence and intergroup conflicts in matters of sexual and reproductive health;
(2) Coercion in the process of pregnancy and expression of sexuality;
(3) Obstetric violence, discriminatory treatment, and conscientious objection in health professionals;
(4) Stigma regarding sexual and reproductive health and discriminatory treatment.
Some other themes to be covered include:
• degrading treatment by health professionals towards people with sexually transmitted diseases;
• HIV stigma;
• cultural norms that limit the expression of sexuality in heteronormative and non-heteronormative men and women;
• policies that coerce the expression of sexuality;
• degrading or violent treatment by the community, groups that defend conservative and traditional values, and health professionals due to the expression of sexuality;
• the stress on sexual minorities;
• policies that limit the self-determination of women against the voluntary termination of pregnancy;
• degrading or violent treatment by the community and groups that defend conservative and traditional values due to the exercise of reproductive rights;
• obstetric violence;
• abortion stigma.
We are interested in A and B Type Articles, especially: Original Research; Systematic Review; Policy and Practice Reviews; Hypothesis and Theory; Brief Research Report; Community Case Study