Why has the human population increased so much in the last few centuries, although we actually invented effective birth control methods?

Question

Why has the human population increased so much in the last few centuries, although we actually invented effective birth control methods?

In: 211

Answer 1

First, I’d point out that reliable, medicine-based birth control has not been available for centuries. In the US, hormone-based birth control pills only became an RX in 1965. And to this day, BCPs are still only available through prescription from a doctor, not over the counter (OTC). In fact, for about 15 years (maybe more) women could not obtain a prescription for BCPs WITHOUT HER HUSBAND’S PERMISSION. Let’s just not think about *single women* trying to get BCPs.

Second, before medicine-based / hormone control BC (the pill, rings, sponges, IUDs, implants, etc), the only other semi-reliable BC was condoms which are centuries old. And it takes the condom-using people to commit to using condoms. Which is not a given.

Third, you are discounting the whole, huge, centuries- (if not millenia) long subjugation of women. I’m not going to explain it all to you (do your own homework) but the fact is, birth control for women and by women has been a struggle to establish since…any attempt by women FOR women to control their own reproduction.

Countries where it is an insult for men to even consider using a condom. Women beaten for asking to use a condom, women *killed* for not only saying No to sex, but not giving birth – or not giving birth to male babies (even though it is the man who supplies the male chromosome).

Check out a few beheadings/banishments/put into asylums, by Kings of Europe and England for their Queens and Mistresses etc due to not producing an heir with the preferred sex bits.

You’ve touched on an issue that is far bigger than ‘Hey we have birth control, what’s the deal?’