I. Introduction
This report explores the roles of husbands and mothers-in-law in reproductive decision-making and women’s participation in development. It addresses the question of whether women and their families believe lower fertility should enable young mothers to engage in activity outside the domestic sphere. The data are drawn from one of four studies in Zimbabwe that explore different aspects of a common theme: the impact of family planning on women’s participation in the development process. This work suggests that family members tend to exert conservative pressure on women, even those with small families, to limit their activity to the household domain.