Relational autonomy and the politics of reproduction: infertility and kinship demands in African and diasporic contexts

Infertility in African contexts is a socially embedded condition, intricately tied to kinship structures, gendered identities and the preservation of lineage. This qualitative study drew on interviews with eleven participants, comprising one couple, one man and six women in Zimbabwe as well as three Black African migrant women (two Zimbabwean, one Nigerian) living in Aotearoa New Zealand. It examined how perceptions of infertility are shaped by kinship connections and moral claims across borders. Guided by a relational autonomy framework, the research highlights reproduction as a sphere deeply shaped by kinship ties (hukama/ubuhlobo), principles of ubuntu and the accompanying obligations, expectations and moral judgements that arise within these social relationships. Findings highlight three key sets of issues: internalised moral scrutiny; the ambivalent nature of kin intervention; and transnational tactics - illustrating how reproduction is shaped by both personal aspirations and collective pressures. Findings shows that reproductive agency emerge through negotiated, relational processes rather than individual choice, thereby extending relational autonomy theory through an African moral lens, and demonstrating how infertility is lived, negotiated and moralised across transnational kinship spaces. The research highlights the need for policy and practice to pay greater attention to the ethical and relational dimensions of reproductive experiences.