Birth Control in Nineteenth-Century England

The decline of the British birth rate in the late 19th century was a significant social change, but historians have shown little interest in it. This book argues that the birth control debate reveals two cultural confrontations: the struggle of middle-class propagandists to manipulate working-class attitudes and the clash of men and women's attitudes towards fertility control. It also highlights the role of birth control in the confrontation between Malthusians, socialists, eugenists, and feminists, as well as the conflict between doctors, quacks, midwives, and ordinary men and women seeking to control their own fertility. Finally, it suggests that pre-industrial forms of fertility control, including abortion, were responsible for bringing the birth rate down.

Format: Hardback
Length: 266 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The decline of the British birth rate, a significant social shift in the late 19th century, has received limited attention from historians. Sociologists have primarily driven this research, attributing the adoption of birth control to the lower classes imitating the behavior of their "betters." In contrast, this book challenges that notion, arguing that the birth control debate in the 19th century reveals two cultural confrontations. Firstly, it explores the struggle of middle-class propagandists, from both left and right, to manipulate working-class attitudes towards procreation for political purposes. Secondly, it delves into the deeper clash of differing attitudes between men and women towards the possibility of fertility control.

The study aims to contextualize the idea and practice of birth control within its social and political milieu. Four key factors are emphasized to achieve this objective:

Birth control played a pivotal role in the intense confrontation between Malthusians, socialists, eugenists, and feminists.

The issue of contraception sparked a conflict between medical professionals, quacks, midwives, and ordinary individuals seeking to control their own fertility.

Men and women belong to distinct sexual cultures, leading to different responses to family regulation.

Contrary to some claims, birth control was not a novel concept; it drew upon pre-industrial forms of fertility control, including abortion, which had been practiced for centuries.

By examining these factors, this study sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of the birth control debate in the 19th century, challenging the simplistic narratives that have dominated historical interpretations. It emphasizes the need for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of this important social change.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032278995