It's the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill. And while the literal science of the pill has had an effect on pretty much all women and their ability to make choices about their bodies and sexual lives, it still hasn't necessarily changed the difficult decisions facing women and men when it comes to career and religion and the way pregnancy, especially in America, is viewed as a professional killer and a black and white family vs. job choice.
WNYC's On The Point program just hosted a really informative and interesting discussion on the history of the pill and how things have gotten better and worst since it's introduction. One woman discussed how she cried for hours after the pope announced that it was unCatholic to use contraceptive and that she was terrified to be doomed with a dozen children as a consequence of her religion. And another called in to mention that when she was in college and engaged to be married in the 60's she wanted to explore the pill as an option but was turned away by her doctor because of his personal beliefs that prohibited him from recommending or even discussing it. And that still is happening now.
I'm a traditional girl. I want to get married and have babies and be able to provide and make a conscious decision about when is the right time to start a family. I don't think I ever want to be on the pill again, it's weird and the hormones kind of freak me out. That being said, it is a really great option for women to explore sexuality without being completely terrified of getting pregnant and having to make the emotional, painful decision of keeping it or not. I'll take the pill over an abortion any day. Both options need to be available, no question about it, especially if we're going to be living in a culture that doesn't financially support families and pregnancy in any way...health care, education, paid pregnancy leave etc.......
Listen to the story here, it's really well done and thoughtful.
Happy Birthday birth control. You aren't perfect, but we need you.
And it's not women like me who are blessed with supportive friends and family that would stand beside me no matter what decision I made who need it. It's the women who have to follow a rigid tradition that doesn't respect their individual health physical and mental when it comes to raising children and acknowledging their sexual needs. Can you imagine secretly taking the pill and thinking it might send you to hell just because you don't want to deal with having 100 little shit kids? Reminds me of that one movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Yeah, that one. No, not Titanic idiot.
