Birth control and the big picture
In our evaluation of our object, the Pill, we sought to examine and understand the object in relation to human beings and human society in the radical new ways we discussed in lecture. In that light, we view human procreation as the basis of human existence, and henceforth, the organization of such existence in the form of civilization.
With that, we thought it would be valuable to explore the definition of civilization and what that means for intelligent, efficient human advancement. Civilization means, according to Montesquieu, “to render an intelligent being yet more intelligent.” According to the theologians, it means “to make reason and the will of God prevail.”
Based off these definitions, it is clear that the perfection of civilization cannot be achieved by the individual alone. Instead, it is substantiated by the decisions of many generations – again, supporting our initial assertion that intelligent decisions about procreation is the key to advancing civilization.
In her essay, "The Civilizing Force of Birth Control," Margaret Sanger creates a compelling framework for evaluating birth control's impact by evaluating what a civilization is. We have contextualized her frameworks with respect to our analysis of the Pill:
The other pressing issues society faces with regard to education, socioeconomic relations, or political disorder can be properly tackled until the fundamental issue of controlling one's propensity to procreate. Unwanted pregnancies that lead to negative, obligatory attitudes about child-rearing creates strains on a world with finite resources. Birth control awakens the individual to a consciousness of his or her responsibilities toward other (including unborn) human life forms, and thus to the community of the present and of the future.
With that, we thought it would be valuable to explore the definition of civilization and what that means for intelligent, efficient human advancement. Civilization means, according to Montesquieu, “to render an intelligent being yet more intelligent.” According to the theologians, it means “to make reason and the will of God prevail.”
Based off these definitions, it is clear that the perfection of civilization cannot be achieved by the individual alone. Instead, it is substantiated by the decisions of many generations – again, supporting our initial assertion that intelligent decisions about procreation is the key to advancing civilization.
In her essay, "The Civilizing Force of Birth Control," Margaret Sanger creates a compelling framework for evaluating birth control's impact by evaluating what a civilization is. We have contextualized her frameworks with respect to our analysis of the Pill:
- The increase of intelligence: The only phrase that can do the invention of the Pill justice is this: intelligent control. By giving the woman the power to take contraception into her own hands and regulate her child-bearing abilities without seeking the approval of her sexual partner, the Pill is indeed deserving of a term as strong as "the liberator," considering its deep-rooted socioeconomic ramifications. Empowering an individual with the gift of intelligence and foresight is a huge win in terms of advancing social liberties. When a woman no longer feels enslaved by unwanted pregnancies, this new-found freedom is the equivalent of granting the other half of a society the ability (and not just the right) to exercise its the talents and skills.
- The replacing of disorder by order: Unwanted pregnancies bring disorder in multiple layers. It not only brings disorder to the individuals who bear the child, but this disorder extends into the familial and societal context when it is multiplied as a common problem in the masses. The Pill revolutionized this expected yet uncontrollable disorder by providing a solution of absolute order. The design of the Pill is one that encompasses order on several layers. The habit and regularity that is required for the effectiveness of the pill itself is an order, this extends out to the the results of the pill which is to allow women to plan and control when they want children, and generate order in the otherwise unpredictable timeline of their lives. The power of the Pill allows for it to serve as a placeholder in the lives of women for the systematization and arrangement of their procreation timeline.
- The dissemination of the best available knowledge: Tracing back to medieval times, birth control efforts have been poorly documented. The reason for this gap in knowledge stems from the subdued nature of female culture. Given, it is important to note how prior to the Pill's introduction in the 60s, women already had a semblance of understanding of how to avoid pregnancy. Case in point: the typical white American woman in 1800 gave birth seven times; by 1900 the average was down to 3.5. Nonetheless, the lack of firm documentation and an accessible prescription drug to affiliate consistency and certainty with birth control was revolutionary. It gave the masses a means to act with certainty (based off available reproductive knowledge) with regard to procreation.
- A passion for the harmonious perfection of human faculties: The faculties of the human mind are what sets us apart from other animals in the food chain. The six faculties of the human mind include reason, memory, perception, will, intuition, and imagination. The design of the pill is a demonstration of the innate passion that we have as humans to strive for the perfection of our faculties. The packaging of the pill requires imagination in order to understand the female psyche and the most effective ways to establish daily routine, in order to tap into memory of women. It also explores the idea of perception in consuming the pill and how to circumvent societal judgments on that. Intuitively, it gives women the ability to understand the life altering implications of the pill allowing them to control, manage and time and procreation, hence allowing one simple pill to encompass a concoction of all the human faculties.
- Aiming to make possible for the whole body of society a life worthy to be called human: Humans are distinct from other animals because we possess highly developed minds, giving us more control over our impulses and the ability to develop complex technologies and societal customs. The birth control pill gives the whole of society the opportunity to expand these human controls by altering the natural processes of conception. An unfortunate potential outcome of accidental pregnancy is that a child may be born unwanted and therefore not properly cared for. Another part of human life is looking after members of our own species, and abandoning a child or not giving him/her the proper support to grow goes directly against that. The birth control pill reduces the probability of such inhumane circumstances. It is the control over our bodies and expression of our innate altruism that leads to a life one may call "human."
The other pressing issues society faces with regard to education, socioeconomic relations, or political disorder can be properly tackled until the fundamental issue of controlling one's propensity to procreate. Unwanted pregnancies that lead to negative, obligatory attitudes about child-rearing creates strains on a world with finite resources. Birth control awakens the individual to a consciousness of his or her responsibilities toward other (including unborn) human life forms, and thus to the community of the present and of the future.
around the world
The Pill (a combination of an estrogen and a progestogen) is used by slightly over 100 million couples using any method, about 1/6 of the global, with widespread use in Africa, Europe, and Oceania but not in Asia, as seen in the graphic we produced below:
The debut of the Pill in the 1960s was of particular significance. Following the relative calm and stability in 1950s society, the 1960s were filled with clashes between mainstream culture and counterculture, anti-war protesters and the government, and Civil Rights advocates and Jim Crow laws. A whole generation grew up in an environment encouraging the challenge of societal norms and previously held beliefs, and many women embraced the Pill as a means of shedding their aprons, advocating their own rights to self determination, and pursuing their professional dreams.
As mentioned in the “Design: Packaging” section, the Pill was first produced and distributed in a brown bottle as Enovid, in a way very similar to other prescription drugs, and usage was not universal at the start. The number of women using the Pill climbed from roughly less than half a million in 1961 to 1.2 million in 1962, and almost 4 million in 1965.
Society did not turn back, and by the 1970s the ramifications of this scientific breakthrough and technological advancement could be fully felt and measured. The fashion for a large family was the first to go. In 1963, 80% of non-Catholic women attending college said they wanted three or more children, and in 10 years that number plunged to 29. In 1960 the average American woman had 3.6 children, and in 20 years she had below 2, and for the first time, more women identified themselves as workers than as homemakers.
In 1970, the median age for college graduate to be married was around 23, and by 1975, the same year that Loretta Lynn came out with the hit single, “The Pill,” the median age was almost 26. Not only were college attending women getting married later, more women were also attending college, as college matriculation rates went from 19% to 44% now. In 1970, 70% of women with children under 6 stayed at home, while 30% worked, and now, that trend has completely reversed. As work participation has increased and a college degree is increasingly important in income levels and occupational availability, the Pill has thus enabled each successive generation of women to choose to attend college, marry later, and pursue higher paying jobs if they wanted to (Source: TIME).
As mentioned in the “Design: Packaging” section, the Pill was first produced and distributed in a brown bottle as Enovid, in a way very similar to other prescription drugs, and usage was not universal at the start. The number of women using the Pill climbed from roughly less than half a million in 1961 to 1.2 million in 1962, and almost 4 million in 1965.
Society did not turn back, and by the 1970s the ramifications of this scientific breakthrough and technological advancement could be fully felt and measured. The fashion for a large family was the first to go. In 1963, 80% of non-Catholic women attending college said they wanted three or more children, and in 10 years that number plunged to 29. In 1960 the average American woman had 3.6 children, and in 20 years she had below 2, and for the first time, more women identified themselves as workers than as homemakers.
In 1970, the median age for college graduate to be married was around 23, and by 1975, the same year that Loretta Lynn came out with the hit single, “The Pill,” the median age was almost 26. Not only were college attending women getting married later, more women were also attending college, as college matriculation rates went from 19% to 44% now. In 1970, 70% of women with children under 6 stayed at home, while 30% worked, and now, that trend has completely reversed. As work participation has increased and a college degree is increasingly important in income levels and occupational availability, the Pill has thus enabled each successive generation of women to choose to attend college, marry later, and pursue higher paying jobs if they wanted to (Source: TIME).
Source: http://www.thefrisky.com/2010-08-03/10-bizarro-birth-control-pill-facts/