One Small Pill for Womankind: One Big Dose for the U.S.

One of the most significant happenings that the Birth Control Movement was responsible for was the creation of the birth control pill. In 1948, Margaret Sanger, biologist Gregory Pincus and physician John Rock began to research and develop the birth control pill. It got approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960 (Kaufman). This oral contraception is a type of medication that women take daily to prevent pregnancy because these pills contain hormone that prevent a woman’s eggs from leaving the ovaries and making cervical mucus thicker which keeps the sperm from getting to the eggs (Planned Parenthood). Plannedparenthood.org stated that within five years of its approval, the birth control pill was used by one out of every married women

Over the centuries, women have tried a number of methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some of the pregnancy control measures that existed before the invention of the pill included abstinence and withdrawal. Unfortunately, such methods often failed to prevent unintended pregnancies. As such, birth control advocates continued researching for effective birth control methods. Americans did not meet the idea of birth control methods with enthusiasm. In fact, those who advocated the use of birth control devices experienced challenges, including being jailed.

The availability of the pill gave a different view towards women and their capacity to become successful individuals due to the power they had over their bodies. For once, women had an opportunity to think of a future career instead of staying at home with their children. It helped American women enjoy sex rather than worry about further responsibilities such as pregnancy. During 1965, a study proved that women who used oral contraceptives had sex up to 39% more than women who used other methods (Williams). This demonstrates how women took advantage of the pill by planning for futures they wouldn 't have been able to think about before. They could now be independent women. Women started challenging their exclusion from politics and the workplace and even questioned their sexual roles (“The Sexual Revolution: History, Origins & Impact”). Therefore, they also began to doubt the authority of men to make decisions for their bodies. As for men, not only did they start expecting women to have more casual affairs, but they created a stronger communication with women due to sexually transmitted diseases. The consent of women over their own bodies and their futures was made possible by the birth control pill.

Modern use of birth control pills has given women a sense of independence, to gain employment and express their sexuality freely, while mid-twentieth usage of birth control came with an increased stigma, less access to the pill, and a positive and negative impact on marriages.

The Birth Control Movement of 1912 in the United States had a significant impact on Women’s Reproductive Rights. Women in the 1800s would frequently die or have complications during or after childbirth. Even if the woman would have died, they would still have a great amount of children. As the years progressed into the 1900s, the amount of children being born dropped. Because of this, birth control supplements were banned, forcing women to have a child that she was not prepared for or did not want to have in the first place.

Women in today’s society have never known a time when contraceptive options were not available to them. As a general statement, acquiring some sort of contraceptives whether it is the pill, patch, condom, emergency contraception, or another of the many types of birth control is not difficult with the many options available to women today. However, backtrack to the early 1900’s and the story was completely different. In 1916, Margaret Sanger made contraceptive history by opening the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. The fight for birth control began. It was not until years later in 1960 that the birth control pill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and since then many other varieties of birth control have made their way into the market (Kim & Wasik, 2011). Today, thanks to those like Margaret Sanger who fought for contraceptives, women and couples who wish to avoid pregnancy have more choices than ever before. (Egarter et al, 2013; Perry, 2015).

Women today may have more choices but it has not always been this way. “Women of the past often didn’t get much a choice about their sexuality” (Bringle). However by 1950s, a pill to prevent pregnancy was created. Though this contraception was created, it was hard to get. A birth control advocate, Margaret Sanger, “attacked legislative restrictions on birth control”, informed many women the uses and positive aspects of using contraception, and encouraged doctors to give contraception guidance by opening “the first birth control clinic in New York in 1916” (Bringle). Even after the widespread information of birth control, the accessibility of it today is low. This pill is a necessity for women in today’s world and should be made more accessible. To use contraception, a doctor has to prescribe it and this prescription is rarely covered by

The birth control pill inarguably became the focal point of many significant issues, including female emancipation. It allowed women to escape the burden of unplanned childbearing and work outside the home. Supporters believe that it strengthened the nuclear family by easing the strain of unwanted children that could not be economically supported.

For many decades women have faced the issue of birth control along and women rights. Not being able to have a voice in matters that concern their personal life as well as their health, women were subjected to doing what society thought was morally appropriate like getting married and having children while giving up their right to receive an education or go to work. Women who were not ready to have children at that time relied on birth control which is a contraceptive that is used to prevent pregnancies. Many women found themselves battling the issue of their sexual lives been put into question simply because they chose to use birth control. Author Rickie Solinger stated “many believe that a woman’s decision

Growing up as a young woman today in a world where sex sells, would be unimaginable without the creation and use of birth control. Birth control not only gives women rights as to whether or not they want to bear children but it also helps women with menstrual cycles. Women at one point had no contraception or information on birth control. Imagine the world today without knowledge on contraception. Imagine how middle to lower class citizens would survive. Most of the children would be lucky to be fed yet alone college educated. This is all because one woman, Margaret Sanger, devoted her life to this cause. This research paper will address who Margaret Sanger was, why birth control meant so much to her and how she devoted her life to its cause and creation.

Today, the availability of birth control is taken for granted. There was a time, not long passed, during which the subject was illegal (“Margaret Sanger,” 2013, p.1). That did not stop the resilient leader of the birth control movement. Margaret Sanger was a nurse and women’s activist. While working as a nurse, Sanger treated many women who had suffered from unsafe abortions or tried to self-induce abortion (p.1). Seeing this devastation and noting that it was mainly low income women suffering from these problems, she was inspired to dedicate her life to educating women on family planning—even though the discussion of which was highly illegal at the time (p.1). She was often in trouble with

Birth control has been studied for many years. Over the year’s people have discovered so many new things and applications. The history of birth control and the society around us has been affected by the impact of laws and the people.

With the rise of the modern age economic survival has become difficult for families based on a single income. This economic need along with modern attitudes toward gender equality has resulted in women being represented in the workforce in greater numbers. However, until the 1960’s women faced severe discrimination when trying to enter and maintain a position in the workforce. Often qualified women would be passed over for men with less experience and education. Employers were fearful that women were too emotional and were not equipped to handle the stress of the work environment. Also driving the decision to not hire or promote women was the concern over the additional health care expenses and leave time pregnant

Carl Djerassi was a chemist in Mexico city that created the first pill that synthesized hormones in 1951. In 1957 the FDA approved the pills for women with menstrual disorders but just three years later the pill was released for sexual protection. Some states still made this drug illegal and it went against many people’s morals. In 1997 the pill was expanded to treat acne (A Brief History 1-2). The pill has come a long way and is still continuing to form in this evolving society. Less than seventy years ago we didn’t even have an oral option for birth control. Today we are fighting over whether the pill can be available over the counter or not.