Reproductive Politics at the Border: Pronatalism, Intermarriage, and Moral Movements in Ladakh, Indi

What causes reproductive practices to become politicized at a particular time in history? In India's northwestern border region of Ladakh, family planning and intermarriage---both of which were unproblematic just over a decade ago---are becoming politicized and increasingly linked to ethnic and religious conflicts. This dissertation describes how Ladakhi women negotiate between religious and/or political pressure, cultural loyalty, and their own reproductive desires. Population worries have led to the emergence of pronatalist and moral movements targeting women and the youth. While women's reproductive agency is constrained by these recent politics, there are distinct differences in how Buddhist and Muslim women experience and participate in these movements. Buddhist women are encouraged to have more children, whereas the presumed high fertility of Muslim women is considered problematic. Reproductive politics in Ladakh is gendered in such a way that women are simultaneously involved in the policing of reproduction as well as affected by its governance. This dissertation contributes to the Anthropology of Reproduction and Himalayan studies by explaining why gendered politics have emerged in this Himalayan border region and describes women's strategies for making reproductive decisions. Based on sixteen months of fieldwork among women, medical staff, religious/political leaders, and youth in Ladakh, this dissertation tells the story of how women's lives are affected by the increasing politicization of reproduction, highlighting how women understand, negotiate, and participate in that politicization. This research is based on a hospital survey of 237 women, in-depth interviews among women, doctors, and the youth, as well as the collection and analysis of population data. This dissertation explains why reproduction is becoming controversial, shows how social relations are being impacted, and describes how women and youth navigate their reproductive decisions in this politicized context.