Pregnancy Tests On Brides Ahead Of Mass Wedding: Gross Invasion Of Bodily Autonomy, Privacy

How does it feel? If you are forced to take a pregnancy test right before your marriage to check the eligibility and on being positive denied to take wedding vows. Humiliating right? That is what happened with not just one bride but five, who tested positive for pregnancy during a mass wedding under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana in the Gadsarai area of Dindori, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Madhya Pradesh Mass Wedding Controversy

Madhya Pradesh government conducted a mass wedding scheme for women from economically weaker sections but now landed in controversy. These five brides were among 219 girls who were supposed to get married on 22 April. Unfortunately, the matter has generated huge political controversy as it jeopardized their dignity and caused indirect public humiliation.

As per the report, one of the women whose pregnancy test had come positive claimed to be living with her fiance before the wedding. Even if pregnant, the authority has no right to cut them off the list. The decision should have been left to the respective bride-groom whether to get married or not. But no, officials thought it is their moral duty to put them off. The decision on excluding the girls from the mass marriage scheme was taken by the Social Justice Department based on health department reports, as per the report. It is an insult to the girls and a lot has got at stake. Given our societal norms, each girl might have to go through the family's wrath and endure society's disgraceful attitude. Did authorities think about it? Do these girls of the poor and tribal communities have no dignity?

Officials have clarified these tests were conducted for age verification, sickle cell anemia and to ascertain physical fitness. Question is, were men subjected to the same level of scrutiny or control over their bodies? Usually, it is always women who go through such tests. In many countries, women may be required to undergo a public pregnancy test as a condition of employment or access to certain services. In this case, it was the service of marriage.

The pregnancy test invaded the privacy of these women as it publicly revealed a woman's personal and private medical information without her consent. This can be particularly stigmatizing and humiliating, especially if the woman is not prepared to disclose her pregnancy status or if she is being coerced or forced to take the test.

It also reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and sets a narrative that women's bodies are public property, to be scrutinized and controlled by others. As earlier said, it can lead to a culture of shame and stigma around women's reproductive health and contribute to a lack of autonomy and control over their bodies, a tool of discrimination.

MP authorities need to answer why these tests were conducted, women were put on a pedestal. Authorities have put the future of these women in danger. The whole fiasco seems a way to determine whether a woman has had sexual intercourse, it is often seen as a way to protect the honor and reputation of women and their families. It is no less than a virginity test. These tests are invasive and humiliating. The obsession with purity tests has been a complex issue with roots in cultural, religious, and social beliefs.

This needs to end somewhere, today 5 women were ripped off of their right to privacy over being sexually active, tomorrow things could get more intense.

Suggested Reading: Excusing Misconduct By Women Defeats Women's Empowerment: Bombay High Court