History Evening: A Wonder of the Modern World

A Wonder of the Modern World: A history of the oral contraceptive pill.

Note early start – 6.15pm

Guest Speaker: Dr Prudence Flowers

In 1960, when the oral contraceptive pill was released on to the market in the United States, it triggered profound changes in how women and men in the Western world would approach sex, love, and family. This talk explores the social, medical, and political history of ‘the pill, ’ a revolutionary yet controversial pharmaceutical drug. It will outline the legal context in which the pill was developed, explaining the state and federal laws in the United States that categorised birth control as ‘obscene’ and criminal. It will consider the motivations, beliefs, and actions of Margaret Sanger, Katherine McCormick, Dr. Gregory Pincus, and Dr. John Rock, the central individuals who helped transform the pill from an idea into reality. It ends by sketching out the dramatic global response…