Lecture Notes: Katharine McCormick and the Pill

Introduction

• Katharine McCormick was born in 1875.
• Context of the time:
  • Few women attended college.
  • Women couldn't vote.
  • Birth control was criminalized.

McCormick's Early Contributions

• Graduated with a biology degree from MIT in 1904, the second woman to do so.
• Worked on the Suffrage Movement.
• Helped pass the 19th Amendment (1920), granting women the right to vote.
• Promoted female education throughout her life.

The Birth Control Pill

• 1950s: Scientists worked on oral birth control.
• Research faced funding issues due to political controversy.
• McCormick, a birth control supporter, provided financial support at age 78.
• Birth control was controversial and could lead to jail time for usage or sales.

Economics and The Pill

• Women's labor force participation increased significantly from the mid-1960s.
• More women entered professional fields like medicine and law.

Research Findings

• Research by Claudia Goldin, Lawrence Katz, and Martha Bailey showed:
  • The pill was a major factor in increased female labor participation.
  • Approved for sale in 1960, though restricted in many states.

Legal and Social Changes

• 1965: Supreme Court ruled in favor of privacy in marital birth control use.
• Widespread availability of the pill led to an increase in women in professional degree programs.

Impact on Female Education

• Data shows a sharp increase in female enrollment in professional programs from 1955 to 1995.
• Earlier legalization of the pill in some states correlated with earlier increases in female professional education and labor force participation.

The Role of the Pill

• The pill didn't reduce the number of children but allowed women to control when they had children.
• Incentives:
  • Delayed childbearing allowed women to remain in school, pursue careers, and work in the paid labor force.

Legacy of Katharine McCormick

• McCormick Hall at MIT is named in her honor.
• Her influence is seen in the presence of female students in fields like engineering, medicine, law, and economics.

Conclusion

• Katharine McCormick's support for the birth control pill had a lasting impact on women's rights and participation in the labor force.
• For further learning, practice questions and additional resources are available at MRUniversity.com.