birthcontrol

=Birth Control: Then and Now=

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The History of Birth Control
The first recorded evidence of birth control was reportedly fromapproximately 3000 B.C. when Egpytians used a primitive form of a condom, usually made of animal hide. Also, in 200 A.D. a Greek gynecologist Soranus believed that women were fertile during ovulation but he wrongly predicted that ovulation was during menstruation. Common practices of birth control during this time included: olive oil, pomegranate pulp, ginger, tobacco juice, water used by blacksmiths, and jumping backward seven times following intercourse. Jumping forward to the 20th century saw birth control practices evolve to include: coitus interruptus, condoms, rhythm method, diaphragm, extended lactation after the birth of a child, abstinence, abortion and sterilization. Though it may seem like there were many different types of birth control available for women to experiment with and choose from, there were many things prohibiting women from accessing birth control as they wished to. The Comstock Law of 1873 restricted information about sexuality, sexual practices and birth control from being distributed. This was especially hard on poor women who already had a hard time obtaining birth control. Many women looked for information and/or birth control anyway they could find it and often wrote to other women for help. One woman that was especially instrumental in the birth control movement was Margaret Sanger. In 1936, the decision of //United States v. One Package// allowed physicians to be excempt from the Comstock Law and were permitted to give out birth control and valuable information to women. In 1965, birth control became legal for married couples.1967 brought the addition of "family planning assistance" to women receiving public assistance, especially helpful for women to further their education or plan when to have children and also especially for lower income women. The birth control pill was introduced in the 1960s and has evolved and become widely available over time. Today the most common forms of birth control remain: abstinence, family planning, barriers (condoms, diaphragms), hormonal methods (birth control pills, patches, shots) and withdrawal. Also, birth control methods are widely publicized and are available to essentially all ages; birth control and sexual reproduction are subjects that are mandatory for most students by the end of high school.

Understanding the Evolution of Birth Control
Birth control methods in early ages were a combination of natural influences as well as various spices and potions. As mentioned, the Greek gynecologists worked with various liquids to prevent the fertilization of the woman's egg. Also, they were not completely sure about the differences between ovulation and menstruation. Their was little knowledge of reproduction at this time, simply that women had a menstrual period and that there a few ways to prevent pregnancy if used directly before or after intercourse. Much later, information about sexuality and birth control grew, as did society's understanding that it was not necessarily a means for becoming more sexually active, but also for planning families and for economic reasons. In the late 19th century and early 20th centuries when the sexual revolution was taking place, it became more of a legal battle as to whether or not birth control and information about birth control could be spread. Also at this time it must be understood that most of the society was very conservative and saw reproduction and sex only as a means for building a family. After World War II and the onset of the sexual revolution, more and more people became interested in birth control and its uses for an independent lifestyle (mainly women) and for the prevention of diseases (men and women). Also, abortions became legalized and birth control is available for all and often for free from various organizations. Birth control has also gone from basic condoms, diaphragms, and other means to now scientifically designed devices to prevent ovulation and pills to also regulate ovulation as well as menstruation. There was also the introduction of the "morning-after pill" that prevents an egg from being fertilized in the days after intercourse. Therefore, it is easy to see that birth control and the fight for it has made great strides especially in the past century.

Connections to History of Sexuality 297
The following readings from __Major Problems in the History of Modern Sexuality__ connect to various topics about birth control and were used in our class to understand the influx of information in the twentieth century and to debate whether or not (as quoted on our discussion board by Prof. Faehmel), this ought to be understood as a case of "linear progression from ignorance and superstition, to knowledge, enlightenment, and, with that, growing tolerance," or as something else. The readings allow the reader to examine the progress of birth control to the present day. 1. Walter J. Hoffman Describes Childbirth and Abortion Among the Absaroka (Crow) and Dakota Indians, 1888, pg. 309 2. Eugene Caves Reports a Death from Illegal Abortion in Rural Wisconsin, 1896, pg. 310 3. Margaret Sanger Argues "The Case for Birth Control," 1917, pg. 311 4. The Supreme Court Upholds Forced Sterilization, 1927, pg. 314 5. Women Write Margaret Sanger for Birth Control Advice, 1924, 1930, 1935, 1936, pg. 316 6. Women's Use of of a Baltimore Birth Control Clinic, 1929, pg. 319

Online Resources
The American Experience section of the PBS website offers a look at "The Pill," a movie documenting the history of the birth control pill as well as historical facts about the pill and many different resources for better understanding its history. Included are some primary sources that outline various aspects of women's fight for birth control and its availability.

Many online medical websites and also the Planned Parenthood website offer basic information about birth control, its uses, effects and varieties. This is more information than many women in earlier times could have ever asked for. They are perfect examples of how birth control availability has evolved over time.

Primary Sources:
1.) An entire website dedicated to Margaret Sanger's Papers can be found here: [|Margaret Sanger Papers Project] 2.) [|An essay] about Daniel Defoe's //Marital Lewdness or Matrimonial Whoredom//: a book about the use and misuse of the marital bed. 3.) Explanations about all of the different types of available birth control today can be found on the [|Planned Parenthood Website.] 4.) Chapter Nine, "The Politics of Reproduction," of __Major Problems in the History of American Sexuality__ has firsthand accounts of how birth control evolved legally.

Sources: 1.) PBS: The American Experience: "The Pill" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/index.html 2.) http://imr.bsd.uchicago.edu/chiefs/History%20of%20Medicine/Birth%20Control_files/v3_document.htm 3.) http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52188 4.) Peiss, Kathy. __Major Problems in the History of American Sexuality__. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.