Changes in many households and throughout society will be needed before women can realize their full potential. Family planning programs also can help meet women's needs, both practical and strategic. Of course, they do so chiefly because they provide contraceptive methods. Programs can help women recognize the value of their own opinions by seeking and heeding women's views and advice. Programs can help women practice making decisions in new areas and learn interpersonal skills needed to pursue their own interests.
Programs can expand services to meet a broader range of women's reproductive health needs.
Programs can help men both to play their part in contraception and to understand and appreciate women's new roles. Programs can provide women with income and skills by hiring, training, and promoting women and by offering them opportunities for leadership. In these ways family planning programs help prepare women to make decisions and choices that formerly were not available to them. Of course, family planning programs cannot singlehandedly solve all the problems confronting women, but they can seek ways to help.