The War on Birth Control

Let’s talk about something that should be a settled issue by now but, spoiler alert, isn’t: birth control. From Anthony Comstock’s 19th-century moral crusades to the fallout from Dobbs, America’s relationship with contraception is a case study in how rights, once won, are never truly secure. This week’s podcast episode dives deep into the messy, frustrating, and often infuriating history of birth control in the United States. We trace the fight for reproductive autonomy back to Comstock’s “decency” laws, through the groundbreaking Griswold v. Connecticut decision, to the current political landscape where access to contraception hangs in a precarious balance. Oh, and let’s not forget the looming specter of Project 2025—an ideological Trojan horse aiming to dismantle Title X funding and redirect resources to crisis pregnancy centers that lack real medical care but are brimming with judgmental pamphlets. Here’s the bottom line: the war on birth control is part of a larger battle over who gets to control whose body. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Millions of marginalized people—women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, low-income families, and rural communities—are disproportionately impacted by these restrictive policies. And let’s be real, this isn’t about “morality” or “freedom”; it’s about power. Always has been. If this episode left you feeling fired up, good. It’s time to channel that rage into action. Share this podcast, educate yourself and others, and remember: history shows us that progress is possible, but only if we fight for it. Stay informed, stay resilient, and most importantly, stay bitchy. Until next time, ProfessorMeredith Bitchy History is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Bitchy History at www.bitchyhistory.com/subscribe