It’s difficult to know how to celebrate 50 years of the pill, whose birthday it is today. Sex would seem an appropriate mode of celebration but if that’s not possible, I’m going to suggest cake. That always works for me.
When the pill was first released in 1960 (Australia was the 2nd country after the USA to introduce it to a very excited population), it was a difficult sell. The words “pregnant” and “virgin” (let alone sex!) were not used in the media. Advertising contraception was illegal, as was writing about it. Sex education did not exist. Nor did Family Planning clinics.
There wasn’t even a Facebook group for The Pill.
I know.
And it wasn’t until the 70s that it was prescribed for single women. Until then, Doctors would only give it to married women. There was major resistance to seperating sex from reproduction. And it was EXPENSIVE, since it had a hefty ‘luxury’ tax heaped on it. All this changed in 1972 when Gough Whitlam got rid of luxury tax and put the pill on national health scheme. He also removed ban on advertising contraception and poured money into family planning and sex education in schools.
Once women could decide when and if they were going to have babies, it freed them. Suddenly the pill allowed women to be in charge of not just their bodies but their lives.
Top Comments
Dear Mamamia,
Sorry,to disappoint you again but I have a Marriage Manual(A Practical Guide Book to SEX & Marriage)published originally in 1936 & updated regularly since by Hannah & Abraham Stone (Drs. in New York) & given very good reviews by the British press- for prevention of contraception etc.
Also I have a Christian booklet published by the ABC (1967) on interviews given on radio on "SEX-Delight or Deceiver'
Sorry, to upset the applecart,but this is true.
Still enjoyed your article!!
Nikolas Margerrison,
Balgowlah Sydney
Dear Mamamia,
Just a oldy,64 years.SEX was around earlier than 1960!!The 30,s & 40,s had SEX Godess's in films,the 50,s had "West Side Story",James Dean, Tony Curtis(passed away yesterday 85 years) Marlon Brando Elvis Prestley, Bill Hayley & Rock & Roll(that was SEX.)Sorry to upturn the applecart.Birth Clinics started in the 30,s,& at my Primary school in 1958 we had SEX education.
Things never change just come in different COLOURS!!!
Halleluya Amen!!
Enjoyed the article,
Nik Margerrison