039 - Presidential Panel. Birth Control in America

Session Submission Type: Invited Session

Abstract

Prior to the 1960s, neither abortion nor hormonal contraception was available in the U.S. for most women. Changes in state laws and US Supreme Court decisions brought greater availability, though unevenly by state and year. Today most women have access to and have used birth control, yet nearly half of pregnancies are unintended according to the women. Unintended pregnancies are concentrated among women with low income and education. Bailey considers the effects that the availability of birth control has had on women’s education and careers since the 1960s—and, by implication, on gender inequality. Barber shares findings from a survey that elicited weekly reports from women 18-21 years of age on their relationship status, desire to have or avoid a pregnancy, and contraceptive use, considering which young single women want a pregnancy, and what predicts getting pregnant whether or not it is wanted. Edin explores how cultural meanings of babies, condoms, abortion, and pregnancy testing affect contraception and pregnancy among poor women.

Sub Unit

• Plenary and Presidential Panels

Session Organizer

• Paula England, New York University

Presider

• Sarah R. Hayford, Arizona State University

Panelists

• Jennifer S. Barber, University of Michigan

• Kathryn J. Edin, Johns Hopkins University

• Martha Bailey, University of Michigan