A tiny little pill has changed the life of many women around the world and in Germany. In 1961 the first birth control pill was introduced to the German market and after some initial difficulties established itself as the most prominent contraception method with more than 50% of women making use of it in Germany today. I personally found the topic very interesting because it gave me the opportunity to research and reflect about a product I might be taking for granted today, but which in fact has come a long way and has left its marks.
This paper will discuss the influence of the birth control pill on the Germany society by travelling through time and also by elaborating on the role of women throughout the process.
Furthermore some of the learning targets of the seminar will be scrutinized and later on adressed in the allocation of results:
• The influence of users on the innovation of the pill
• The appropriation of the new technology pill by consumers as part of the innovation process
• The consumption good pill as technical product that works as cultural sign
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Research question and hypotheses
1.2 Source criticism and fields of research
2 Historical background
2.1 Birth control before the introduction of the pill (before 1961)
2.2 The introduction of the pill (1961-1970s)
2.3 The adoption of the pill in longterm (1970s - today)
3 Allocation and discussion of the results
4 Conclusion
5 References
Objectives & Topics
This paper examines the historical development and societal impact of the birth control pill in Germany, focusing on its role as a technological innovation and a cultural symbol that fostered female autonomy and gender equality.
- The influence of users on the innovation of the contraceptive pill
- The social appropriation of the pill as a consumption good
- The transition of the pill from a medical product to a lifestyle drug
- The long-term effects of the pill on birth rates and the role of women in German society
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Birth control before the introduction of the pill (before 1961)
Contraception in the United States was forwarded by Margret Sanger (1879-1966), a prominent birth control acitivist. She was deeply involved in the project of achieving women’s access to effective means of contraception in order to enhance female autonomy2. Sanger’s motivation was experiencing the example of her mother who, after giving birth to eleven children and many miscarriages, died very young at the age of 40 years. And not only her mother, but almost all women of that time were suffering from the many child births and miscarriages. Their desire increased to control whether, when and with whom they have children. As men still decided on contraception and women had a huge knowledge gap concerning their body and birth control, Sanger decided to open the first birth control clinic in the US in 1916. Soon afterwards women lined-up to get life-saving birth control information. Even though Sanger was sentenced to jail for a few times, she kept re-opening her clinic to pursue her mission to spread knowlegde about reproductive functions among women and fight for the women’s right to determine wheter to bear children or not3.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, defines the core research question regarding the pill's influence on German society, and introduces the two central hypotheses.
2 Historical background: This section provides a chronological overview of birth control methods, starting with early activism in the US, the impact of the Third Reich on research, and the initial introduction and social reception of the pill in Germany.
3 Allocation and discussion of the results: This chapter evaluates the gathered information against the initial hypotheses, discussing the pill’s transformation into a consumption good and its profound impact on female emancipation.
4 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes how the pill functioned as a cultural sign, liberating women and reshaping societal structures in Germany.
5 References: This section lists all academic and historical sources consulted during the research process.
Keywords
Birth control pill, Germany, female autonomy, contraception, innovation process, social change, gender equality, consumption good, lifestyle drug, Pillenknick, reproductive health, Margaret Sanger, Schering, emancipation, historical analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the history of the birth control pill and its social consequences, specifically within the German context from its introduction in 1961 to the present day.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
Key themes include the innovation process of contraceptives, the role of women in society, the evolution of the pill from a medical product to a consumer good, and its impact on birth rates.
What is the main research question?
The research question asks: “How did the birth control pill influence German women and society?”
What research methodology is employed?
The author uses historical analysis, drawing upon diverse sources such as government statistics, archives from the museum for contraception in Vienna, contemporary magazine articles, and established sociological literature.
What does the main body address?
The main body traces the history of contraception, the introduction of the pill under the brand name "Anovlar" in Germany, the controversy surrounding its use, and its long-term adoption.
Which keywords best describe the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as reproductive health, female autonomy, consumption, innovation, and social emancipation.
How did the perception of the pill change over time?
Initially perceived with moral skepticism and restricted as a medical treatment, it evolved into a widely accepted, everyday necessity that empowers women in their professional and private lives.
What was the significance of the "Pillenknick" in Germany?
The "Pillenknick" refers to the significant decrease in birth rates in Germany, particularly observed between 1965 and 1975, which highlights the pill's profound impact on demographic trends.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nathalie Wilk (Autor:in), 2016, The birth control pill and its consequences for German women and society, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/368324
