We are all keen to build an egalitarian world. But that is not as simple as letting men into women’s spaces (or vice versa) and there are dangers in inviting men into this particular one. Because the truth of the matter is that for every supportive partner who is an asset to the woman’s decision-making, there will be far more who use it as a way to shape and control it.

Those with ‘good’ partners have nothing much to gain by further encouragement of men’s involvement (you can already bring whoever you want with you), while those without have much to lose.

Equality means feeling as safe and being as protected as men. And, until the world changes remarkably, that will sometime mean keeping them away.

“Family planning - the equality question”: Lucy Mangan on the burden of contraception