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Why Is The Pill Important To The Feminist Movement?

946 Words4 Pages

The introduction of the birth control pill in 1960 was a pivotal moment in American society, and its impact is still being felt today. In the book American + the Pill, author Elaine Tyler May recounts the history, development, and importance of the pill and how it transformed the social and political landscape of the United States in the mid-twentieth century. This essay will explore the pill’s importance in American society, as it enabled women to take control of their reproductive lives and transformed sexual politics. It will also explore the pill’s importance in the feminist movement, as it became a symbol of women's liberation and a catalyst for social and political change. The pill was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration …show more content…

In the 1960s and 1970s, women’s rights were at the forefront of the political and cultural landscape in the United States. The pill gave women the opportunity to challenge the law and religious authority and take control of their bodies. While the pill was met with resistance by many states and religious organizations, this did not stop women from doing what they felt was necessary for their lives. According to May, “Initially, many American women defied religious or governmental authority simply by taking the pill. The Catholic Church banned the use of contraceptives, yet many Catholics took the pill anyway… the laws did not prevent women who wanted the pill from getting it,” (pg. 118). The pill played a large factor in increasing the autonomy of women, which was a crucial component of the feminist movement, as it challenged patriarchal norms and …show more content…

As May states, “The pill became a vehicle for new laws, policies, and behaviors that altered the relationship between institutional authorities and individuals,” (pg. 119). The approval of the pill gave women a voice that was not heard before. Within years of the passage, women became more adamant about getting answers on the components of the pill that were entering their bodies and how it would affect them. Years after the birth control pill’s approval, women pushed doctors and drug companies to improve the pill and its effectiveness. According to May, however, “In spite of improvements in dosage and packaging, questions persisted about the pill’s safety, and feminists kept up the pressure,” (pg. 133). As a result of the controversies over the pill, many lawsuits were made, forcing experts to listen to the voices and concerns of women and create improvements of the pill and contraceptive methods, much like we see

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