ABSTRACT
This chapter examines contraceptive use among Senegalese women. The author shows how the social pressures to have children early and often limit women’s ability to take control of their own reproductive behaviour. Senegalese legislation permits the use of contraceptive measures, but only with the husband’s consent and only to facilitate family planning in cases where women have one or more children already. Some women, however, exercise what she calls mothering autonomy by creatively and strategically taking advantage of this legislation in order to adapt the social norms to their personal needs and wishes.
