Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi
This qualitative, focused critical ethnographic study explores how young people’s ‘lived SRH citizenship’ and their active roles realising their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights, shape their agency and participation in decision-making in Malawi. Informed by postcolonial feminist and d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2414821 |
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| author | Jannah Wigle Stewart Paul Anne Emanuelle Birn Brenda Gladstone Monica Kalolo Paula Braitstein Lisa Forman Lumbani Banda |
| author_facet | Jannah Wigle Stewart Paul Anne Emanuelle Birn Brenda Gladstone Monica Kalolo Paula Braitstein Lisa Forman Lumbani Banda |
| author_sort | Jannah Wigle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This qualitative, focused critical ethnographic study explores how young people’s ‘lived SRH citizenship’ and their active roles realising their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights, shape their agency and participation in decision-making in Malawi. Informed by postcolonial feminist and difference-centred citizenship theories, our findings reveal that age-based power differentials, systems of gerontocracy and a culture of adultism impede bona fide youth involvement in SRH policymaking, making young citizens’ participation more of an illusion than reality. Although democratisation and decentralisation aim to promote youth engagement, SRH policy spaces/processes lack institutionalised processes for integrating youth and remain dominated by donors and government. Collective efforts to build young citizens’ capacity and to support their engagement are essential for realising their active and meaningful participation in SRH decision-making. Recognising youth as equal members of society is vital to expose systemic gerontocracy/adultism, and democratise power to youth in Malawi, and beyond. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c328db91b1654fcc9ce4fcb666d09aad |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-c328db91b1654fcc9ce4fcb666d09aad2025-08-20T02:30:34ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062024-12-0119110.1080/17441692.2024.2414821Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in MalawiJannah Wigle0Stewart Paul1Anne Emanuelle Birn2Brenda Gladstone3Monica Kalolo4Paula Braitstein5Lisa Forman6Lumbani Banda7Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaPACHI Malawi, Lilongwe, MalawiSocial and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaSocial and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaPACHI Malawi, Lilongwe, MalawiDivision of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, CanadaSocial and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaPACHI Malawi, Lilongwe, MalawiThis qualitative, focused critical ethnographic study explores how young people’s ‘lived SRH citizenship’ and their active roles realising their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights, shape their agency and participation in decision-making in Malawi. Informed by postcolonial feminist and difference-centred citizenship theories, our findings reveal that age-based power differentials, systems of gerontocracy and a culture of adultism impede bona fide youth involvement in SRH policymaking, making young citizens’ participation more of an illusion than reality. Although democratisation and decentralisation aim to promote youth engagement, SRH policy spaces/processes lack institutionalised processes for integrating youth and remain dominated by donors and government. Collective efforts to build young citizens’ capacity and to support their engagement are essential for realising their active and meaningful participation in SRH decision-making. Recognising youth as equal members of society is vital to expose systemic gerontocracy/adultism, and democratise power to youth in Malawi, and beyond.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2414821Youthlived citizenshipsexual and reproductive healthgerontocracyMalawiSDG 3: Good health and wellbeing |
| spellingShingle | Jannah Wigle Stewart Paul Anne Emanuelle Birn Brenda Gladstone Monica Kalolo Paula Braitstein Lisa Forman Lumbani Banda Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi Global Public Health Youth lived citizenship sexual and reproductive health gerontocracy Malawi SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing |
| title | Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi |
| title_full | Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi |
| title_short | Young people’s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship: participation and power of youth in Malawi |
| title_sort | young people s lived sexual and reproductive health citizenship participation and power of youth in malawi |
| topic | Youth lived citizenship sexual and reproductive health gerontocracy Malawi SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2414821 |
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