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Unseemly and unwomanly behaviour: Comparing women’s control of their fertility in Australia and England from 1890 to 1970

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Abstract

From 1890 to 1970 Australian women’s use of female-controlled birth control methods was higher than that of English women. The latter primarily depended upon withdrawal and condoms. Use of these male-controlled methods of contraception is associated with low levels of female sexual pleasure, and the belief that husbands should initiate sexual activity and should control their wives’ fertility. I argue that higher use of female methods gave white Australian women greater sexual and reproductive autonomy throughout this period. The view that they were in a less desirable position than women in other Anglo cultures needs to be examined more closely.

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  1. The History Department, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney, Australia

    Hera Cook

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  1. Hera Cook
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Correspondence to Hera Cook.

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Cook, H. Unseemly and unwomanly behaviour: Comparing women’s control of their fertility in Australia and England from 1890 to 1970. J Pop Research 17, 125–141 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029461

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