Birth Control and Contraception

Birth control and sexual relations

At present most historians believe that “pre-industrialised women” were victims of their own sexuality.  Thus, the “Pill era” of the 60’s and 70’s was regarded as the epitome of women’s liberation in that for the “first time” in their lives they could control their own bodies and sexuality.

However, in truth, birth control has always been an issue of social and political approval rather than medicine and technology.  According to Linda Gordon (feminist author of “Birth control in America”) “Modern Medicine did almost nothing until the last 20 years to improve birth control devices literally a millennium old”.

After much research I agree with her views since birth control remedies were practiced even during the times of the Ancient Egyptians.  They were also passed down from generation to generation by wise -women and midwives.  Some ancient forms include: coitus interruptous, various potions and rituals, barrier methods, IUD’s, douches and pessaries (all explained in the history of contraception section of the website).

By looking back on the history of birth control it is now easy to understand why the Suffragette and birth control movements came about.  These movements didn’t fight for the introduction of birth control devices they fought against the suppression of fertility control methods by an ignorant patriarchal society.

Methods such as abortion were apparently common and socially accepted methods of family limitation in the Greco-Roman world.  Although Christian theorists condemned abortion as a “sinful act”, it wasn’t actually made illegal until the 19^{th h} century.  The banning of abortion was in some cases used to eliminate the midwives or rather, “the doctors rivals”.  Thus, what emerged in the 19^th century wasn’t the technology to control fertility, but the birth of political movements fighting for the right to use birth control.

In addition, even contraceptives such as the condom were not developed for the purpose of birth control but rather to prevent men from getting those ruthless STD’s.  Indeed Pollack (another noted feminist) brings up a fact that these technologies “are developed from a patriarchal perspective, emphasizing the sexual enjoyment of men and underestimating the costs to women”.  Lastly, to emphasise the extent of male patriarchal sexism and selfishness, doctors could “prescribe” condoms for males to protect them from STD’s, however, women could not get condoms to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy!