This comparative study of women's empowerment, sexuality and reproductive rights explores issues that are fundamental to the debate on population and gender. Drawing on material from a wide varieties of societies all immersed in deep change, the contributors investigate when and why people change their reproductive and sexual behaviour, and how knowledge is transferred within and between the generations. They confront the ethical dilemma for feminist researchers and activists: can we change cultural knowledge, codes and practice in this field, and should we? Tensions arise in acknowledging both that family planning knowledge and practice have forced change on to different cultures with little regard for the potential impact, but that the techniques and knowledge can be, in themselves, of great use to women. This book highlights tensions and concerns which are too often blithely ignored.