In the 18th century it was stereotyped for a woman to be a homemaker and mother to several children. Then came along a medical advancement that to this day still asks the question of when is birth control a blessing to those women that want more to life than just being a mother. Birth Control has been an issue for the past centuries, debating if it is a blessing for women that long to have professional career or a gateway for women to indulge into promiscuity without the consequence of unwanted children. The pros about birth control are that women can prevent pregnancies not planned; the cons are that in the eyes of the church is sinful.
Pills, vaginal ring, IUD, condoms, patch, implant, and sterilizations are forms of birth control, and have been used during this century to prevent having unwanted children and “a big family.” However, in the eighteen century having a “big family” was a normal thing, but did women use birth control even if the church was against it? According to Catherine, breastfeeding was used to prevent unwanted pregnancies or to allow them to space out their pregnancies (Delors). “Clearly, men and women have wanted to control the number of their offspring for physical, emotional, social, and economic reasons and they have taken responsibility for attempting to use various methods of contraception. Yet, periodically throughout history, some people have attempted to deny women the right to birth control.” The church denied it for it being an “abortion.” The church believed that life is created in the instant of sexual intercourse. However, Science has proved that life begins in fertilization known as Concepcion. The Catholic Church thought it was immoral for women to prevent their pregnancies because they were against God’s will. If God wanted to women have children then women had to have as many children as they could have. “Birth control practice is sinful; the nation needs a growing population of large, stable families; and birth control represented a rebellion of women against their primary social duty motherhood.”(London) The role of a woman has change from staying home, taking care of children, cleaning, and giving birth. Now, women can become anything they aspire, and have a choice to wait to have children until they have finished their careers. It’s a benefit for them to use birth control to prevent a pregnancy not planned. Some careers involve more than 10 years in school, and children could be a distraction to these women. However, birth control is not only use to prevent pregnancies is also used for other medical use. Like painful periods, treat acne, heavy or irregular periods, abnormal hair growth and other conditions. So, it’s not only used for contraception.(NYU) Is there too much freedom in birth control? The new Obama free birth control has been a controversy between insurance and if women are having the too much freedom to consume birth control. “House Speaker John Boehner called it "an unambiguous attack on religious freedom"” (Wolf..) Religion is still a major part in birth control.
Birth control has change over the centuries from being against the law and immoral in the 18 century; to preventing medical conditions and allowing women to choose their own pathways in regarding to wait into motherhood. Religion, politics, and health have been an issue about birth control.
Cited Page
"NYU > Student Health Center > Medical Services > Women 's Health > Oral Contraceptives for Medical Conditions." New York University. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.
Wolf, Richard, and Cathy Lynn Grossman. "Obama mandate on birth control coverage angers Congress and Catholics
USATODAY.com." USA TODAY: Latest World and US News - USATODAY.com. N.p., 9 Feb. 2012. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. .
Delors, historical novelist Catherine, and author of For the King. "Birth control in the 18th century." Versailles and More - by
Historical Novelist Catherine Delors - Author of For the King. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. .
London, Kathleen . " The History of Birth Control." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.
Cited: Page "NYU > Student Health Center > Medical Services > Women 's Health > Oral Contraceptives for Medical Conditions." New York University. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. Wolf, Richard, and Cathy Lynn Grossman. "Obama mandate on birth control coverage angers Congress and Catholics USATODAY.com." USA TODAY: Latest World and US News - USATODAY.com. N.p., 9 Feb. 2012. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. . Delors, historical novelist Catherine, and author of For the King. "Birth control in the 18th century." Versailles and More - by Historical Novelist Catherine Delors - Author of For the King. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. . London, Kathleen . " The History of Birth Control." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012.
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