The purpose of this iconography is to demonstrate the personal benefits of birth control. However, it is also important to understand the potential side effects and health issues associated with it. Through this artwork, I aim to highlight that many women of color in the 1960s were not aware of what birth control was, indicating that they were not provided with the necessary information.
In the 1960’s the Birth Control Pill was introduced to women back to them as a symbol of freedom so they could be sexually active without anyone finding out. But this was also used to control their reproductive system, they saw birth control also as a way to be able to still pursue their careers and at the same time delay motherhood. But for BLACK women, this pill was more complicated because it was an act of inequality and less freedom.
One very mind-blowing situation that happened in the 1960s was that a lot of Black women were treated very unfairly when it came to birth control. Some programs of the government pushed sterilization and long-lasting birth control in poor and Black neighborhoods. To them, it was claiming for public health but also to slow down the BLACK population growth. But to me, I feel like this was given to women who did not have an idea they were being sterilized or given the pill with the right understanding of what it was.
Today, although birth control represents many things like helping with the menstrual cycle, preventing pregnancy, acne control, etc. But it still doesn’t take away the fact that Black women and many other races still get mistreated and also still trying to fight for reproductive freedom. This could be seen because we as women are typing to reclaim that freedom that was once ours for our bodies.
So, this being said, I will be drawing an iconography for this research paper. The art will show how Black women and many other races are being targeted for the freedom of their bodies. It will also show what birth control pills cause in the women’s reproductive system. The reason why I am choosing this is because no matter what race you declare as we should all have the right to know what is being put in our bodies.
