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Discussion 1 400 words

How has birth control (voluntary or involuntary) affected the lives of women? Cite major initiatives and the people responsible for them to support your argument.

Reply 1 Creighton 60 words

Birth control has given women some substantial advances that will could be obtained without it, do make it much easier. A reaction to the use of birth control by woman, children are more likely to be born to parents that are ready for the challenge. That preparation can come from parents making being able to establish their finances in a manner that will allow for the spending that comes with a new baby, or even being ready for the mental exhaustion most parents find themselves in the first few months that a baby is home. Its also reported by Conde-Agudelo et al. (2006) & Zuckerman et al. (2014) that the ability to space siblings out at least 18 months apart significantly increases the newborns health (Crooks et al., 2020). In addition to this preparation the choice to become pregnant or not has given women the opportunity to become equal partners with men in business and modern society. 

Voluntary birth control such as “the pill” has significantly benefited women in different aspects of their lives, it has not always been that way. In the 1912 case Buck v. Bell the supreme court upheld a ruling to sterilize a woman who had been deemed feeble-minded and promiscuous. At this time Virginia lawed allowed for this procedure to be done on mental unfit people and the state argued that her condition was genetic and could be inherited. This is something we know to be completely false now. I could only imagine the mental effects this procedure had on Carrie Buck. This act would never be sanctioned in today’s time and more than likely was carried out numerous times in this dark time. Situations like this are also a reference to why such a massive reform in the Psychological community was necessary. 

Reply 2 Destiny 60 words

Birth control has made an impact on women both voluntary and involuntary. Allowing women to obtain birth control under the age of 21 has been influential in enabling women in college to stay in school. College enrollment was 20% higher in women with access to birth control, then those who didn’t, in the 1970s. Between 1969-80, the dropout rate among women with access to the pill was 35% lower then women without access. Allowing women to have access to birth control before age 21 has allowed access to both availability to have children and pursue higher education. The pill has allowed access to higher education and has been a major driver in women pursing skilled careers like medicine, dentistry, and law. The number of women who complete 4+ years of college is six times what it was before birth control became legal. 28 states have contraceptive equity laws requiring health plans to provide coverage for all FDA approved contraceptives’.  This helping women save money and remove barriers to contraceptives’ saving. The help of paying for birth control has reduced a burden on young women and reduce teen permanency. The rate of teenage pregnancy’s has declined in the last 40 years. An analysis of NSFG found that contraception accounts for 86 percent of recent decline in teenage pregnancy. Family planning and the use of contraceptives has helped reduce the numbers of unintended pregnancies and abortions. Other benefits of oral birth controls have been found to reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers. Birth control voluntary action was to reduce unwanted pregnancy’s its involuntary action was to enable women to continue education, become more financially stable, and decrease risk of other health risk. Although some involuntary means can be beneficial some can be harmful like non consensual sterilization in those with disabilities or illness or limiting the numbers of kids an individual may have, seen in some countries. 

Discussion 2 400 words

From an historical and social perspective, discuss available methods of voluntary contraception throughout U.S. history and key legislation related to contraceptive use, including laws like the Comstock Laws that ended in 1938. Aside from direct legislation, why did birth control not immediately take off?

Reply 1 Nicole 60 word

Artifacts dating back to ancient times have shown that contraceptives have been used for thousands and thousands of years although not all methods were effective. Some even caused infertility and death. In early years like 200s, a Greece gynecologist told women to hold their breath while having sex and sneeze afterwards to prevent pregnancy. Egyptians would mix honey, sodium bicarbonate, and crocodile dung into a paste to use after intercourse. Other methods like that in China caused more danger than preventing pregnancy. People would drink cocktails of lead and mercury which generally ended with sterility, brain damage, and even death. Early cave drawings in France are said to show an early version of the condom. During Cassanova’s time period, cervical caps were used which were often just slices of lemon. In the mid 1800s, condoms were able to be mass produced for the first time on record (Cobblestone, 2019). In the 1900s, other methods of birth control came about such as the oral contraceptive. During this time, laws made it illegal to discuss birth control let alone mail or hand it out to women. Anti obscenity laws much like the Comstock Law, prevented women from being educated on preventing pregnancies as well as obtaining the contraceptives (Cobblestone, 2009). One of the most noted laws preventing education and giving of birth control was the Comstock Laws which finally ended in 1938. Anthony Comstock was a Congregationlist that lobbied for stricter obscenity laws and became a United States Postal Service special agent to be able to police the mail thinking he could save American’s virtue. These laws did not define obscenity which allowed Comstock to interpret the law as he saw fit. The Comstock Laws banned things like contraception from being mailed (Rubenstein, 2022). This caused women who wanted to avoid a pregnancy to try household cleaners such as lysol and Coca Cola which were believed and marketed to kill sperm. Margaret Sanger was the first to open a birth control clinic despite it being an illegal practice. Her clinic was advertised thru flyers placed under doors and shoved in mailboxes. At Sanger’s clinic, women were educated on contraception, told that abortion was wrong as it was killing a life, and given birth control. The clinic was open 10 days before being shut down by police and Sanger placed in a penitentiary. After her release, a wealthy donor contributed money for Sanger to open a small office which is where she secretly gave out information and birth control to those who seemed it (Cobblestone, 2009). In 1960, the FDA finally approved an oral contraceptive thank in large part to Sanger’s battle over the years. Following this FDA approval, many other methods became available to American women including the IUD. Despite the major changes in contraceptive use and education in the United States, many developing countries are still struggling with lack of access for women (TIME, 2015).

Reply 2 Destiny 60 words

(Crooks, 2021) Contraceptive methods, techniques to prevent birth pregnancy, have been around for centuries. Egyptian women in ancient centuries would use dried crocodile dung and place it next to their cervix. In Greece eating parts of a mule were recommended and in Europe vaginal sponges soaked in solutions were used as contraceptives. In U.S. history methods available for contraceptives and laws concerning their use were restricted. Anthony Comstock in the 1870s succeeded in enacting laws that prohibited the dissemination of birth control information for this information was obscene, these laws also known as Comstock laws. During this time the only form of birth control was abstinence. Margaret Sanger promoted changes in birth control availability in the United States. In 1915 she opened an illegal clinic where women could use diaphragms shipped from Europe. She published many articles in regards to birth control and did research on birth control hormones. In the 1960s the first birth control pills came to the United States market. In 1965 the Griswold v. Connecticut, could prohibit the use of birth control by married couples. The court overruled the right to privacy in married couples. Laws later allowed young single individuals to gain more access to contraceptives.  As times have changed contraceptives are now available for many and without parental consent. 

(Crooks, 2021) Sex and Politics played a hand and hand role for many centuries, also known as, the power of pro-life anti-contraception politics, making it different for contraceptives to take off. Catholics make a major impact on healthcare systems in the United States. The Vatican prohibits sterilization and catholic sponsors more healthcare institutions. As generations continue we see a rise in contraceptive use in many religious individuals. Although many U.S. citizens favor contraceptives, many religious oppose. Anti-contraceptive religious groups see contraceptives as abortion or gateway to abortion. As attempt to end legal abortion groups, attempts to establish “personhood” in several states constitution. These amendments define a person as every embryo from the moment of fertilization. Thus making every form of contraceptives illegal.