With the subject of Wesselmann’s piece being a woman, it is appropriate to discuss what was occurring in women’s history at this time. The decade of the 60s was seen to be a decade of change for women. One of the changes was that the FDA approved the birth control pill for women in 1960 (Walsh, 2010). However, it could be argued that this wasn’t a true advancement for women at this time. Rather, it should be considered a setback in women’s history. This birth control pill was only granted to women who were married (Broster, 2024). Furthermore, adding to its exclusivity, it was only in 24 states in the United States. The pill was 100% effective, but this could be because the dosage prescribed at this time was 10 times too high. Margaret Sanger and Katharine McCormick, who were considered the mothers of the pill, insisted that the pill was the direction to freedom of women (Public, n.d.). However, the reaction of many women was fury. Women saw it as another way to have the freedom over their sexuality stripped even more. Women were also frustrated with the fact the responsibility of preventing pregnancy was given soley to them. Women felt less in control of their bodies with this pill and felt the power men held over their sexuality.

Sources:

Broster, A. (2024, January 15). 60 years since the FDA’s approval of the Birth Control Pill. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/05/09/60-years-since-the-...

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The pill and the Women’s Liberation Movement. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-and-womens-lib...

Walsh, K. T. (2010, March 12). The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S. News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-a-decade-of-ch...