ipl-logo

Summary Of America And The Contraceptive Pill

943 Words4 Pages

When Birth Control first hit the market in the 1960’s, it took off in a way no one expected, not even the doctors. In the book, “America and the Pill”, Elaine Tyler May focuses on the revolution of birth control and the effects it’s had on society. One of May’s main arguments were that “the pill” gave women new power they didn’t have before. This new invention paved the way for women’s right’s in the United States. While the expectations of the pill have changed very much over the last fifty years, it still remains an important part of the American culture. Margaret Sanger and Katharine McCormick were part of the radical women’s movement. Sanger was driven by her own personal experiences, while McCormick had the financial means to help her …show more content…

She makes use of various books, newspapers, films, and magazines. For example, in chapter six, she references a book by Lara.V Marks called, A History of the Contraceptive Pill. She used this source to reference the troubles the pill caused medically early on. One of the side effects of the pill was blood clots. Many women got them and a few even died. Most of May’s research comes from an internet survey she ran. She got feedback from real women and their experiences with Birth Control. This is where most of her information from Chapter seven comes from. In chapter one, May begins by including a song by Loretta Lynn called, “(Since I’ve Got) The Pill”. This song was popular in the early 70’s and was an anthem for women on the pill. The author uses evidence by backing up her research with facts and …show more content…

I think the author was successful in her techniques and explanations when writing, “America and the Pill”. When she presents the information, she does it in a well-organized way. The chapters flow together nicely and she gets all the right information across. Even though she had many scholarly sources, she still made the book easy to understand. It is obvious May is Pro-Pill, but she refrains from letting that come in the way of her work. She stays neutral throughout. The internet survey where she got most of her original research from was a brilliant idea. She incorporated women into her project who can relate to her and her book the most. By using these women as examples, it makes her book more real to the readers. Overall, May did an excellent job writing this book.
On the other hand, I think that May lacked strength in the cultural history of the pill. Only because she didn’t give herself enough room to explain it more. She tried to confine it into one small section. For example, I think it would have been important to expand more on the Catholic Church’s opposition. Other than that, “America and the Pill” was a very informative

Show More
Related
1367 Words | 6 Pages

In America and The Pill: A History of Promise, Peril, and Liberation, Elaine May Tyler examined the history of birth control in the United States. May traced the pill's conception and evolution the United States through to the twenty-first century. The book consisted of an introduction, seven chapters, and a conclusion. May approached the topic in the context of influence of suffragist and reformer Margaret Sanger's advocacy originating in the late Progressive Era and Cold War American ideology, through to the emerging movements of the sexual revolution and the feminist movement, including acknowledging political, religious, racial, socio-economic, and gender bias factors.

Read More
295 Words | 2 Pages

After read this article “No Healthy Race without Birth Control” by Margaret Sanger who really makes my mind stuck out with two points: first is her title “No Healthy Race without Birth Control” and another she used birth Control as a vehicle for women to gain their freedom. Firstly, I do not agree with her augment is that “No Healthy Race without Birth Control”. I have never heard a maxim like this in my life: such as women will not have a good health if they do not do birth control. This argument is not entirely true.

Read More
820 Words | 4 Pages

Elaine Tyler May delivers a concise historical retrospective and critical analysis of the development, evolution, and impact of the birth control pill from the 1950s to present day. In her book, America and the Pill, examines the relationship of the pill to the feminist movement, scientific advances, cultural implications, domestic and international politics, and the sexual revolution. May argues cogently that the mythical assumptions and expectations of the birth control pill were too high, in which the pill would be a solution to global poverty, serve as a magical elixir for marriages to the extent it would decline the divorce rate, end out-of-wedlock pregnancies, control population growth, or the pill would generate sexual pandemonium and ruin families. May claims the real impact of the pill—it’s as a tool of empowerment for women, in which it allows them to control their own fertility and lives. May effectively transitioned between subjects, the chapters of America and the Pill are organized thematically, in

Read More
534 Words | 3 Pages

Taylor Hurst Kaiser AP Lang 11 November 2015 Analysis of Margaret Sanger’s Speech on Birth Control Margaret Sanger, an American birth control activist, made an announcement titled “The Children’s Era,’ at the first national birth-control conference in March of 1925. In this speech, Sanger attempts to influence her ideas and beliefs on the importance of birth control and contraceptives to the health of society’s women. She also vividly explains how controlled childbearing would apply to children who would eventually be born.

Read More
633 Words | 3 Pages

Not providing access to birth control was essentially murder to women and children in the early 20th century, and Margaret fought to change

Read More
1073 Words | 5 Pages

Trying to prevent neglected children and back-alley abortions, Margaret Sanger gave the moving speech, “The Children’s Era,” in 1925 to spread information on the benefits and need for birth control and women's rights. Margaret Sanger--activist, educator, writer, and nurse--opened the first birth control clinic in the United States and established organizations that evolved into the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. During most of the 1900’s, birth control and abortions were illegal in the United States, causing women to give birth unwillingly to a child they must be fully responsible for. This caused illness and possible death for women attempting self-induced abortion. Sanger uses literary devices such as repetition and analogies

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

The argument over a woman’s right to choose over the life of an unborn baby has been a prevalent issue in America for many years. As a birth control activist, Margaret Sanger is recognized for her devotion to the pro-choice side of the debate as she has worked to provide sex education and legalize birth control. As part of her pro-choice movement, Sanger delivered a speech at the Sixth International Neo-Malthusian and Birth Control Conference in March of 1925. This speech is called “The Children’s Era,” in which she explains how she wants the twentieth century to become the “century of the child.” Margaret Sanger uses pathos throughout her speech as she brings up many of the negative possibilities that unplanned parenthood can bring for both children and parents.

Read More
785 Words | 4 Pages

Margaret Sanger Margaret Sanger, a feminist social reformer, argued that “women cannot be on equal footing with men until they have complete control over their reproductive functions”. Her argument improved our everyday life by providing more information on contraceptives, giving women the power to control their bodies, and changing the role of women and men. Margaret Sanger was determined and dedicated to provide women with information about contraceptives which eventually improved the lives of many women. During the Progressive Era, women had gained a lot more interest in becoming independent by working and improving their education.

Read More
330 Words | 2 Pages

In the 1920s, birth control was a very significant issue that led to the controversial debate between Winter Russell and Margaret Sanger. Most people believed that Planned Parenthood caused the decline of population in human race. Many viewed it harmful to human being’s welfare. Sanger’s debate about birth control was to stand for the entitlement of women to access birth control. Today in our society, birth control plays a big role in our lives.

Read More
1517 Words | 7 Pages

Women in the Progressive Era The Progressive Era was a time of change across America, a time when the country chose to reform into an industrialized urban country. Prosperity was widespread across America, so people turned to social issues to try to expand. Minorities in particular became a focus of this time period, and everyone tried to find a way to integrate them into society.

Read More
1415 Words | 6 Pages

Kenley Koval Catherine Coates English 102 23 January 2023 Topic Discussion and Knowledge Inventory Women’s healthcare was forever changed with the founding of Planned Parenthood in 1916. The organization provided women with affordable treatments and information, which would have otherwise cost them hundreds or thousands of dollars. I first learned about the Planned Parenthood organization during my freshman year of high school and became interested in the impact they had on women’s healthcare. Planned Parenthood has become controversial over time, as many believe they only perform abortions.

Read More
2126 Words | 9 Pages

In 1960, the first birth control pill was put on the market. This was the first time a woman’s reproductive health was in her own control. Ever since the 1900’s women have been fighting for the right to their own reproductive rights (“The Fight for Reproductive Rights”). With the upcoming presidential election the right to obtain birth control and other contraceptives for women could be jeopardized, and taken out of the control of the woman. Thus, the history of birth control, the statistics of how it affects today’s society, why women should have the ability to obtain it easily, and how if outlawed it would not only hurt women, but also the economy are all important topics in the women’s rights movement and very relevant in modern day society.

Read More
717 Words | 3 Pages

Controversy of Birth Control Being Sold Over-The-Counter Birth control is a contraceptive used to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Birth control comes in many forms; typically as a pill but there are other alternatives such as: a monthly shot, a ring, IUDs and many more. In America, there are people who question whether or not birth control should be sold over the counter. Although this is a controversy in the United States, it is common practice in other countries around the world.

Read More
1329 Words | 6 Pages

Women’s rights have been a long struggle in America’s legal system, as well as in the religious world, for many decades and women continue to have challenges, concerns, and struggles today. Fighting for what is best for their bodies such as a woman’s right to contraceptives to control whether she will get pregnant or not was not ideal for religious and personal reasons but would find a worthy advocate in a woman who would dedicate her life for women’s reproductive rights. The right for a woman to have an abortion became a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Courts in a very well-known case. It has always been a double standard in what was right and wrong, moral or immoral, towards women than men. A man was looked at with respect

Read More
1020 Words | 5 Pages

Unintended pregnancies happen around the world daily. According to Guttmacher Institute, “In 2011, the most recent year for which national-level data are available, 45% of all pregnancies in the United States were unintended, including three out of four pregnancies to women younger than 20.” Birth control was approved for contraceptive use in 1960 and after two years, 1.2 American women were on the pill. Birth control should be available without a prescription due to the positive feedback. It should only be available to customers aged higher than 15, and must have a monthly check up with their OBGYN.

Read More

More about Summary Of America And The Contraceptive Pill

Related Topics

Open Document