In Vanuatu, the practice of bridewealth is widespread. However, according to international and national development organizations based in the capital Port‐Vila, this practice impedes women's freedom, including women's reproductive autonomy. In this paper, using data gathered in Port‐Vila between 2009 and 2018, I examine the practice of marriage in Port‐Vila and argue against this development discourse. I analyse the transformations of marriage showing the increasing autonomy of young people in the selection of marriage partners and the links between marriage, bridewealth and reproductive autonomy. I emphasize the changes in the nature of bridewealth marriage in a contemporary urban context and its implications for female fertility control. I conclude that bridewealth is only one among several factors that influence women's reproductive autonomy in Port‐Vila.

中文翻译：

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“我们已经付了您的阴道生育孩子！”：瓦努阿图维拉港的新娘财富和妇女的婚姻与生殖自主权

在瓦努阿图，实行婚嫁的做法很普遍。但是，根据首都维拉港的国际和国家发展组织的说法，这种做法阻碍了妇女的自由，包括妇女的生殖自主权。在本文中，我使用2009年至2018年间在维拉港（Port-Vila）收集的数据，研究了在维拉港（Port-Vila）的婚姻惯例，并反对这种发展话语。我分析了婚姻的变化，表明年轻人在选择婚伴方面具有越来越大的自主权，并且婚姻，新娘财富和生殖自主权之间存在联系。我强调当代城市背景下新娘婚姻性质的变化及其对女性生育控制的影响。我的结论是，新娘财富只是影响女性成长的几个因素之一