The Birth Control Pill

Margaret Sanger is the influencer behind the infamous birth control pill. Margaret was a nurse, and through her work she “treated a number of women who had undergone back-alley abortions or tried to self-terminate their pregnancies” (britannica). This inspired her to create and fight for the approval of birth control pills. Her main goal was to teach women whether or not to have children and about the reproductive system and. In the 1920's, most people would not discuss their personal information. Sanger didn't like this and wanted to help women to plan for a family. Also, she wanted women to have the ability to access birth control (women 1920). She started a birth control clinic as well as the American Birth Control League to teach women about intimacy in 1912 by writing a newspaper column called "What Every Girl Should Know" (school eb.com).

In 1918 a court case called New York v. Sanger was held in which they decided that Margaret Sanger was not guilty for breaking state laws for birth control. (textbook). Sanger started a feminist publication called in 1914, that advertised women's rights for birth control (women 1920). Birth control pills come in a pack in which you take 1 pill every day (planned parenthood). The pill is safe and affordable if you always take it on time. The pill contains hormones which stop ovulation. This means there is no egg for sperm to fertilize preventing the risks of pregnancy. The pill was approved for use in the United States in 1960. Along with preventing pregnancy, it also prevents and reduces acne, thinning bones and more making the pill very popular to millions of women.

The birth control pill has not always been accepted, and contraception used to not be allowed, but without it women all over were suffering with miscarriages and trying to self-terminate their own pregnancies. The impact was described in 1959: “It was amazing, that so many women suddenly had menstrual disorders requiring treatment with the pill, women who had never seemed to have menstrual problems before.” (allwomenstalk). The birth control pill was first introduced in 1960, and to this day, 100 million women around the world use it (umw blogs). “The battles over birth control are neither political nor religious. This is an issue of equality for women” (Karen DeCrow). I completely agree with this statement. Women have been stereotyped to only be needed for cooking, cleaning, having kids, then taking care of those kids. But women should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding their bodies which is why birth control is essential.

Works Cited

“Bessie Smith.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017, www.biography.com/people/bessie-smith-9486520.

Harmon, Justin, et al. "Bessie Smith." Pop Culture Universe: Icons, Idols, Ideas, ABC-CLIO, 2018, popculture.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1468206 Accessed 3 Jan. 2018. Silverstein, Lea. Bessie Smith Is My Hero. Baczkowski Publishing, 2018. thomson, kristen. “A Brief History of Birth Control in the U.S.” Our Bodies Ourselves, 14 Dec. 2014, www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book-excerpts/health-article/a-brief-history-of-birth-control/

Silverstein, Alex. “Impact.” The Birth Control Pill, 21 June 2016, thepill.umwblogs.org/impact/ Parenthood, Planned. “Birth Control Pills | The Pill | Contraceptive Pills.” Planned Parenthood, 2017, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill.

Wilkins, Shelly. “A Brief History of Birth Control in the U.S.” Our Bodies Ourselves, 2015, www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book-excerpts/health-article/a-brief-history-of-birth-control/

Weber, Max. “Log In.” Britannica School, 2015, school.eb.com/ Ament, James and Kevin Kern. “Birth Control”. Encyclopedia of the Jazz Age. Edited by Ciment, James, Sharpe Reference, 2008. 102-103

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