Why Contraception is NOT sexist...
Recently I've read a lot and spoke to many people, mostly women, who have very strong opinions on whether or not contraception is a fundamentally sexist concept and industry. Both sides of the argument are understandable, however, it seems that a lot of people are preoccupied with associating the gendered nature of contraceptives with inequality, which isn't necessarily the case. Obviously, I'm not an expert, but that's the beauty of the internet...
Modern science and sociology scholars have offered fascinating insights into how technology and gender have complex and interactions and interfaces in everyday life. Judith Butler has been at the forefront of innovative thinking about gender and how it has no intrinsic root in nature- "it's not something we are, but something we do." A lot of academic research has proven that advancements in technology and science either directly or indirectly impact how people perceive gender by reinforcing or challenging existing notions of what it means to be a man or a woman.
Revolutions in contraception is still a fairly modern advancement, as the oral contraceptive (OC) emerged in the 1960s and since then thirteen different types of contraceptives for women have been developed. Although they're not necessairly accessible or affordable for every woman across the globe, they exist. So, the dominance of developing women's contraceptives has automatically delegated the responsibility to women instead of men. A lot of people argue that men and women should be equal and in so many ways, the feminist movement is integral to challenging issues of gender equality, and that the responsibility for contraception should be equally shared.
However, articles that suggest contraception to be sexist ask 'Why is always the woman's responsibility?', or 'Where is the male OC?'. The way I see it, the women's movements that lobby for safer contraceptions and challenge unsafe or severe side effects of the OC highlight how, if anything, the gender inequality with contraception favors women. Women dominate the focus of an industry, isn't that what feminists have been fighting for? For women to be recognized as more than sexualized objects and housewives? Contraception gives women control over their own bodies in a way that didn't exist before the 1960s. There is currently no men's health movement that campaigns for the development of safer contraceptives in the same way that the women's health movement does.
I think it's also important to consider why there is no active men's movement for an OC. Arguably, the predominance of female contraception has manifested in the gender identity of what it means to be a woman. Meaning that in a society where toxic masculinity is prevalent, conversations about a contraceptive pill for men could be seen as a 'feminine' topic. This is a societal issue that reinforces the need for feminist campaigns to break down gender stereotypes and challenge traditional gender roles.
A male OC could undoubtedly relieve the pressure on women to prevent pregnancy. However, the fact that women are able to manipulate their hormones more freely should be seen more as an advantage than a burden. The female OC isn't just for preventing pregnancy but we can also take it to help with acne and so on. I started taking the pill when I was 16 for my severe acne and now I'm so proud and thankful that I was able to combat it and have the clear skin I have now.
Now, I know that the pill doesn't work for everyone. I don't take my success with it for granted as I know a lot of my friends have struggles for years with side effects and finding the right pill for them. However, there are a variety of options women can look at- condoms, the implant, injections to name a few, whereas men have two options (condoms or vasectomy) and neither will help non-fertility related issues.
From a scientific perspective, male biology is inherently different. The monthly ordeal of periods that girls have for most of their lives means that our lovely fluctuating hormone cycle is a hell of a lot easier to interfere with than boy's pretty normal and consistent hormone levels. Plus, studies have shown that a male pill would be pretty much ineffective and an injection or gel would be better. However, like the female pill, male contraception often causes horrible non-fertility related side effects. Often the side effects for men are even worse that they are for women.
There's also the issue of unplanned pregnancies and health risks of pregnancy. Many people argue that the agonising cramps, crippling effects on mental health and various other nasty side effects are unfair and that the contraceptives industry isn't doing enough to accomodate every woman. Developers of female contraceptives state that the serious implications of either not being able to carry a baby healthily or issues of neglect or post-natal deperession pose far greater risks than the side effects of contraceptives. This is why there is a focus on providing women with contraceptive options rather than men.
There is research into developing more options for men, however, it's not a priority. I do think that people are quick to jump to issues of inequality, particularly in articles that show a personal anger towards contraceptive side effects. However, I don't think that there is a fundamental issue of gender inequality when it comes contraceptives, its biology. Social issues are prevalent and there are intrinsic links between gender identities and science and technology, however, the biology of men and women is simply inherently different.
Modern science and sociology scholars have offered fascinating insights into how technology and gender have complex and interactions and interfaces in everyday life. Judith Butler has been at the forefront of innovative thinking about gender and how it has no intrinsic root in nature- "it's not something we are, but something we do." A lot of academic research has proven that advancements in technology and science either directly or indirectly impact how people perceive gender by reinforcing or challenging existing notions of what it means to be a man or a woman.
Revolutions in contraception is still a fairly modern advancement, as the oral contraceptive (OC) emerged in the 1960s and since then thirteen different types of contraceptives for women have been developed. Although they're not necessairly accessible or affordable for every woman across the globe, they exist. So, the dominance of developing women's contraceptives has automatically delegated the responsibility to women instead of men. A lot of people argue that men and women should be equal and in so many ways, the feminist movement is integral to challenging issues of gender equality, and that the responsibility for contraception should be equally shared.
However, articles that suggest contraception to be sexist ask 'Why is always the woman's responsibility?', or 'Where is the male OC?'. The way I see it, the women's movements that lobby for safer contraceptions and challenge unsafe or severe side effects of the OC highlight how, if anything, the gender inequality with contraception favors women. Women dominate the focus of an industry, isn't that what feminists have been fighting for? For women to be recognized as more than sexualized objects and housewives? Contraception gives women control over their own bodies in a way that didn't exist before the 1960s. There is currently no men's health movement that campaigns for the development of safer contraceptives in the same way that the women's health movement does.
I think it's also important to consider why there is no active men's movement for an OC. Arguably, the predominance of female contraception has manifested in the gender identity of what it means to be a woman. Meaning that in a society where toxic masculinity is prevalent, conversations about a contraceptive pill for men could be seen as a 'feminine' topic. This is a societal issue that reinforces the need for feminist campaigns to break down gender stereotypes and challenge traditional gender roles.
A male OC could undoubtedly relieve the pressure on women to prevent pregnancy. However, the fact that women are able to manipulate their hormones more freely should be seen more as an advantage than a burden. The female OC isn't just for preventing pregnancy but we can also take it to help with acne and so on. I started taking the pill when I was 16 for my severe acne and now I'm so proud and thankful that I was able to combat it and have the clear skin I have now.
Now, I know that the pill doesn't work for everyone. I don't take my success with it for granted as I know a lot of my friends have struggles for years with side effects and finding the right pill for them. However, there are a variety of options women can look at- condoms, the implant, injections to name a few, whereas men have two options (condoms or vasectomy) and neither will help non-fertility related issues.
From a scientific perspective, male biology is inherently different. The monthly ordeal of periods that girls have for most of their lives means that our lovely fluctuating hormone cycle is a hell of a lot easier to interfere with than boy's pretty normal and consistent hormone levels. Plus, studies have shown that a male pill would be pretty much ineffective and an injection or gel would be better. However, like the female pill, male contraception often causes horrible non-fertility related side effects. Often the side effects for men are even worse that they are for women.
There's also the issue of unplanned pregnancies and health risks of pregnancy. Many people argue that the agonising cramps, crippling effects on mental health and various other nasty side effects are unfair and that the contraceptives industry isn't doing enough to accomodate every woman. Developers of female contraceptives state that the serious implications of either not being able to carry a baby healthily or issues of neglect or post-natal deperession pose far greater risks than the side effects of contraceptives. This is why there is a focus on providing women with contraceptive options rather than men.
There is research into developing more options for men, however, it's not a priority. I do think that people are quick to jump to issues of inequality, particularly in articles that show a personal anger towards contraceptive side effects. However, I don't think that there is a fundamental issue of gender inequality when it comes contraceptives, its biology. Social issues are prevalent and there are intrinsic links between gender identities and science and technology, however, the biology of men and women is simply inherently different.
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