The Fight for Family Planning

The timing and partnership context of becoming a parent

“…The 1958 cohort were brought up in an era of relative family stability where the loss of a parent was equally as likely to arise from a death as from a marital separation (Kiernan and Hobcraft 1997); in contrast, for the 1970 cohort parental separation rates were higher than amongst the 1958 cohort (Kiernan 2004a;Sigle-Rushton, Hobcraft, and Kiernan 2005). By the time both cohorts reached their teens the contraceptive pill was freely available to single women (Leathard 1980). However marriage generally heralded the start of a first union amongst the 1958 cohort whereas cohabitation was becoming a more important marker amongst the members of the 1970 cohort.…”

The politics of contraception: policies lost and regained

“…4 The independent pioneering efforts of Marie Stopes and the Malthusian League that led to the opening of birth control clinics in London in 1921 were initially opposed on demographic grounds that were linked to social class, gender, religion, medical profession and morality. With the "erosion of lingering Victorian taboos", "support of socially respected women" and "contributions of eminent medical men", there was increasing support for contraception by the end of the 1920s, when government…”

“…4 With fears of depopulation in the late 1930s, the term 'birth control' fell into disrepute and the agency changed its name to the Family Planning Association in 1939. During the Second World War, demographic fears increased to the extent that family planning was not addressed at all in the National Health Service bill of 1946.…”

Birth Control Clinics in Scotland, 1926 – c.1939

“…52 However, at times Brown acted to provide birth control information for those who were not married, on one occasion giving private instruction to a young man who was engaged. 71 Reports tell of increasing numbers of doctors, nurses and social workers referring patients to the clinics. 58 Brown's actions contrast with the official aim of the clinic, which was to give 'wise guidance and help to married women' in line with the policies of the SPBCC.…”

“…126 However, the clinic was initially in the same premises as the Mother and Child Welfare Centre. 129 Those running birth control clinics were particularly keen not to be associated with the provision of abortion. 127 Despite the official distancing from the issue of venereal disease it is likely that the birth control clinics did encounter cases of VD.…”