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1. Pilloring the patriarchy: Feminist pill(ow) talk on oral contraceptives 1950s-1980s By:
Sgt. Roselyne Patriarchal Pig Van der Heul
&
Dan Radical Feminist Bendiksen (Ms.)
2. Introduction & Overview The changing role of the pill in feminist discourse
Background
Internalist history
Externalist history
Feminist liberation discourse (1960s)
Feminist health discourse (1970s)
Feminist cafeteria discourse (1980s)
Conclusion
Discussion
3. Background of contraceptive technologies Ideas of contraception have been around forever
Talmudic Law
Other methods from days yonder:
Pull-out method (Coitus Interuptus)
Home Remedies
Natural cycles
Abortion
Infanticide
Condoms
Various vaginal inserts
Breastfeeding
Alternative forms of sexual practices
5. Internalist history of the genesis of the pill 1910-1940: Establishment of Reproductive Endocrinology / research in hormones
Research in biological sex differences
Found that hormones regulate womens cycles
Regulating cycles allows for regulation of ovulation
G. Pincus puts all this knowledge together in the little artifact known as the pill
6. Externalist History of the genesis of the pill Existing Birth control methods werent satisfactory
Funding
Pharmaceutical issues
McCormick/Planned Parenthood
Continuous (and growing) need for birth control in middle-class American society (more women working outside the home etc.)
Population control
Fear of population explosion in Developing Countries (destabilizing effects, resource management)
Belief of technological fix to societal problems
Political Approval
7. Why a pill for women instead of men? Science daunted by task of beating the millions of sperm produced every day by human male
Sanger & McCormick: Method should be in the control of women
Social convention regarded contraception as female responsibility
Men adverse to physiological control of their reproductive system (lack of male volunteers for testing)
Dominant scientific research focused on womens (instead of mens) role in the reproductive process and on steroid hormones instead of other possible methods (e.g. anti-sperm vaccine)
8. Different Feminist Perceptions of The Pill Womens Liberation
Feminist Health Movement
Othering and universality
9. Womens liberation (60s discourse) Women in Control of Contraception
Sexual liberation as part of womens liberation
Women able to plan a family and a career
Openness about sexual identity
Liberation from hormonal constraints
11. Feminist health movement (70s discourse) Debating the safety of the pill
Seaman (1969): Inspired feminists to vocalize perception that pharmaceutical ind. & medical profession was condescending, paternalistic, judgmental & non-informative
ť Inspired health-feminist objections to the pill
-insufficient clinical trials
-potentially fatal side effects
-lack of informed consent among the millions of users worldwide
13. Questioning Othering and universality (80s discourse) Pollack (1985): Contraceptive technology are developed from a patriarchal perspective, emphasizing the sexual enjoyment of men
Pill constructs womens bodies as universal in respect of reproductive functions (one-size-fits-all discourse)
Emphasis on differences and shift to postmodern cafeteria-discourse
Choices increased, but mainly for white middle-class women (othering still based on race and class instead of sex)
14. Conclusion meaning of the artifact (the pill) very instable (interpretive flexibility)
All meanings (liberation, patriarchy, othering) were incorporated in the pill but each became explicit only in a specific social context
i.e. ? discussion!!!!!!!!!!
15. Discussion questions: -Does the pill have inherent politics / gender or does the flexibility of its meaning imply neutrality?
-Is there anything inherent in the pill that makes it such a political lightning-rod?
16. Brought to you by: Roselyne van der Heul & Dan Bendiksen
hes cooler than a penguin, bumpier than an eel.