Contraception: Where there’s a pill, there’s a way

Jam Tomorrow

A new fortnightly series of Ros Taylor’s exploration of the post-War promises Britain made to itself… and whether they were kept. In this edition: the quest for cheap, easy-to-access, stigma-free contraception wasn’t the simple progression to female freedom that you might think.

The wartime emancipation of women – not just into work but into “fraternisation” with American servicemen – created a stereotype of “loose” women and racist judgment against Black GIs. Birth control in the 50s was dangerous and hard to obtain. And one of the key advocates of the Pill was Enoch Powell.

With new interviews and archive material, Ros explores the long and winding road to women’s control of their own fertility… and whether our new obsession with “wellness” might be taking women backwards.

(Listener note: this edition contains contemporary quotes from the 40s and 50s featuring antiquated racial language).

• “Since no ‘decent’ woman was having sex outside marriage, it was unthinkable to promote ways of avoiding pregnancy.” – Ros Taylor

• “When it came to sex, most of the risk fell on women. And yet ‘loose’ women were blamed for luring men – and spreading disease.” – Ros Taylor

• “Women’s sexual desires were never taken into account on contraception, only men’s – and the pill didn’t really change that.” – Dr Claire Jones

• “The Pill recast the whole choreography of relationships.” – Mary Kenny

Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Jade Bailey. Voiceovers by Imogen Robertson and Seth Thévoz. Original music by Dubstar. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Jam Tomorrow is a Podmasters production.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices