When most of us think about the “birth control movement”, we likely think about chants of my body my choice, campaigns for birth control de-stigmatization, and the fight for reproductive rights more broadly. Today, it seems like a cornerstone of feminist thought, and something that unites the majority of women, right? But looking deeper, that hasn’t always been the case – nor is it always the case now. 

In this episode, we dive into the complicated, dark history of the birth control movement, and the effects that legacy still has today. 

We trace the birth control movement through the Victorian era to the passing of Roe V. Wade. We explore the history of gynecology, how the fledgling American medical system worked to push out midwives and criminalize contraception and abortion, and the long legacy of state-sanctioned reproductive violence in the United States.

You can find all the sources & references for this episode at www.currentsmedia.co/chaos-control-sources 

Questions or comments? You can reach us by email at [email protected]

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