Contraception and Modern Ireland: A Social History, c. 1922–92

Description

Contraception was the subject of intense controversy in twentieth-century Ireland. Banned in 1935 and stigmatised by the Catholic Church, it was the focus of some of the most polarised debates before and after its legalisation in 1979. This is the first comprehensive, dedicated history of contraception in Ireland from the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 to the 1990s. Drawing on the experiences of Irish citizens through a wide range of archival sources and oral history, Laura Kelly provides insights into the lived experiences of those negotiating family planning, alongside the memories of activists who campaigned for and against legalisation. She highlights the influence of the Catholic Church's teachings and legal structures on Irish life showing how, for many, sex and contraception were obscured by shame. Yet, in spite of these constraints, many Irish women and men showed resistance in accessing contraceptive methods. This title is also available as Open Access. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Dedication Contents List of Figures Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction The Legal and Social Context Using Oral History Why is This Book Important? 1 Access to Contraception and Family Planning Information in Ireland from the 1920s to the 1950s 1.1 Oral Histories 1.2 'A Dangerous and Nefarious Trade' 1.3 Letters to Marie Stopes from Ireland 1.4 Conclusion 2 Sexual Knowledge and Morality from the 1940s to the 1970s 2.1 Lack of Sexual Knowledge 2.2 Sex Education Booklets for Adolescents 2.3 Women's Magazines and the Media 2.4 The Impact of Religion on Attitudes to Sex 2.5 The Stigma and Shame of Unmarried Motherhood 2.6 Conclusion 3 Birth Control Practices and Attitudes to Contraception in the 1960s and 1970s 3.1 Information on Family Planning 3.2 Attitudes to Family Planning 3.3 The Prevalence of Natural Methods 3.4 Access to Artificial Contraceptives 3.5 England: 'A Heathen Place' 3.6 Smuggling Contraceptives 3.7 Responsibility for Family Planning and Decision-Making 3.8 The Impact of Lack of Access to Contraception 3.9 Conclusion 4 The Pill, Women's Agency and Doctor-Patient Relationships in the 1960s and 1970s 4.1 Women's Accounts and Doctors' Authority 4.2 Attitudes to the Pill 4.3 Conclusion 5 The Catholic Church, 'Sympathetic' Priests and Religious Influences on Family Planning Practices after Humanae Vitae 5.1 Humanae Vitae and Responses from the Church Hierarchy and Laity 5.2 Dissenting Voices 5.3 The Confession Box and 'Sympathetic' Priests 5.4 Conclusion 6 Family Planning Clinics and Activism in the 1970s 6.1 The Establishment of the Clinics 6.2 Motivations 6.3 Challenges 6.4 Personal Risks 6.5 Clients and Medical Authority 6.6 Conclusion 7 Feminist Campaigns for Free, Safe and Legal Contraception in the 1970s 7.1 The Irish Women's Liberation Movement 7.2 Irishwomen United 7.3 The Contraception Action Programme 7.4 Conclusion 8 Campaigns against Contraception in 1970s and 1980s Ireland 8.1 Early Activism: The Nazareth Family Movement and Mná na hÉireann 8.2 The Irish Family League 8.3 The Responsible Society 8.4 Conclusion 9 Family Planning after the Family Planning Act: Access to Contraception in 1980s and 1990s Ireland 9.1 Problems with the 1979 Act 9.2 Access to Artificial Contraceptives: The Role of Chemists 9.3 1990s Activism 9.4 Shifts in Contraceptive Practices 9.5 Vasectomy 9.6 Tubal Ligation 9.7 Conclusion Conclusion Appendix Bibliography Oral History Interviews Activists, Campaigners, and Medical Professionals Other Respondents Oral Histories from Repositories Manuscript Sources Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann Debates Dublin Diocesan Archives IFPA Archives (Now Deposited at RCPI Heritage Centre) National Archives of Ireland National Library of Ireland University College Cork Wellcome Collection Contemporary Publications Contemporary Literature Contemporary Publications Feminist Publications Memoirs Newspapers and Magazines Secondary Sources Modern Reports Unpublished Dissertations Index