Between stigma and solidarity: Experiences of sexual and reproductive health among young women in the Republic of Ireland

This study explores how a sample of Generation Z women (Mage = 22 years) in the Republic of Ireland negotiate empowerment and disempowerment in their experiences of sexual and reproductive health. Five semi-structured focus groups (N = 30) were conducted with undergraduate women at an Irish university between December 2024 and January 2025. Using reflexive thematic analysis, three themes were developed: (1) Stigma surrounding sexual and reproductive health in families and medical spaces, (2) Empowerment through peers and social media, and (3) Navigating stigma and empowerment simultaneously. Family and clinical encounters often reproduced silence, dismissal, and discomfort, while peer and digital platforms fostered collective knowledge-sharing and resistance. Anticipated judgement from healthcare providers contributed to hesitancy and withdrawal from care. Notably, stigma and empowerment were not experienced as opposites but as coexisting and relational, shaping how participants made sense of their bodies and health needs. These findings highlight the need for health and medical practitioners to move beyond procedural care, fostering relational, sensitive, and culturally responsive dialogue. By centring the voices of Generation Z women (typically defined as those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s), this study offers insights into avenues for empowerment, informed decision-making, and equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services.