Policing the Womb: Birth Control & Women's Reproductive Rights

These flashcards cover key concepts and events discussed in the lecture on birth control and women's reproductive rights, focusing on historical context, key figures, legislation, and societal implications.

What is the historical significance of fertility control dating back to 1850 BCE? Give an example of controlling women’s fertility.

Fertility control methods have been documented for centuries, indicating a long history of women's efforts to manage reproduction.

Ancient Egyptian women used vaginal pessaries to block sperm

Who were key figures in the first wave of birth control movements in the U.S.? What century did this take place in?

Social activists like Margaret Sanger and Emma Goldman. The first wave of birth control movements took place in the early 20th century.

What organization did Margaret Sanger founded that is still active today? What term did she coin?

Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Sanger coined the term "birth control."

What principle did Margaret Sanger advocate for in relation to population control?

The Malthusian principle of population control, suggesting population should align with available resources. Saw birth control as a means to Eugenic ideas

What was the apartheid government's stance on abortion during the 1970s?

The National Party was anti-abortion, viewing it as detrimental to maintaining the apartheid system.

How did South Africa's apartheid policies affect the regulation of white female sexuality? Did they allow Afrikaner women to have abortions?

Afrikaner women's roles were limited to reproduction, emphasized through the concept of Volksmoeder. They did not allow Afrikaner women to get abortions as they feared a decline in white population

What were some of the unsafe methods sought by women for abortion under apartheid?

Clandestine procedures using sticks, leaves, knitting needles, etc., or seeking help from traditional healers.

What was the impact of societal views on the reproductive rights of black women during apartheid?

Their needs were often ignored and framed as sexually immoral, under family planning initiatives.

What changes occurred regarding abortion rights in Canada by the late 20th century?

Legalized abortion after the 1988 Supreme Court case of Henry Morgentaler.

What key question does the lecture end with regarding contemporary views on reproductive rights?

Have societies moved past racial and patriarchal notions underlying women's reproductive rights?

What is infanticide? What cultures resorted to it? In Rome who got to determine if the baby was kept?

• Infanticide refers to the intentional killing of an infant, often practiced in certain cultures as a means of population control, economic necessity, or social stigma.

• Australia, Rome, Native Americans, Chinese, Indian

• In ancient Rome, the father had the authority to decide whether to keep or abandon the newborn.

Reproductive control was seen as….. (2)

• Critical to Equality between the Sexes

• Improves Women’s Position in Society

How was Margret Sanger controversial?

• Tested contraceptives on women without consent (Puerto Rican

Experiment)

• Success at the expense of their health & political freedom

Describe the Apartheid government.

• People were classified by race

• Non-white people had fewer rights

• The state tightly controlled relationships, sex, marriage, and reproduction

• Afrikaners= white

What does the term “Volksmoeders” refer to?

Mothers of the nation- a term used in South Africa to describe Afrikaner women who were idealized for their role in producing and raising children to ensure the continuation of the Afrikaner population.

How were the Apartheid government hypocrites when it came to birth control for white Afrikaners and black women?

The Apartheid government promoted birth control among black women to limit their population growth while encouraging white Afrikaners to increase their numbers, highlighting a stark racial double standard in reproductive policies.

How did the government control black women’s reproductive rights?

• Injection of the contraceptive Depo Provera without

  consent

• Coercion, often in clinics that targeted black women disproportionately. This reflected the government's broader strategy to manipulate black population dynamics.