The Pill - a response

 

It was so interesting listening to Mary Harrington's lecture and interview about feminism and progress or rather the lack of it. As with all advances in science and medicine there is perhaps a price to pay, highlighted by her piece and the suggestion that only the higher class women benefited from the pill.

I remember a TV programme I saw once about a young downs-syndrome couple who were preparing for a life together. One perceived problem was the question of birth control. They were a happy, sexually active couple and there was a suggestion, by the authorities, that their maturity was not such as to deal with this and that perhaps they should think about sterilisation for the girl. An enormous moral conflict. In her case, the pill turned out to be a huge benefit to them both freeing them to enjoy a fulfilling relationship and a good life together, without the need of surgical or any other intervention in this matter. Presently, the pill can be implanted so that it isn't necessary to remember to take it.

Any woman who is trapped in any form inside a marriage, can ensure that they don't keep getting unwanted pregnancies. My Grandfather in law was a man who liked to do a day's work, liked the pub after, liked his pigeons and liked to keep his wife 'busy' with a baby resulting in nine children. The pill would have been a real game changer in this situation