The Pill

Charting the development of an oral contraceptive during the 1950s and its effect on "the sexual revolution" of the '60s. It was enormous. Says Sylvia Clark, who grew up before the pill was available: "Women began to see themselves for the first time in all of history as economically self-sustaining." The hour examines reasons why, as it profiles the pill's key figures, including biologist Gregory Pincus and gynecologist John Rock; heiress Katharine Dexter McCormick, who financed the research; and Margaret Sanger, the activist who spearheaded it. Among Sanger's motivations: her own mother, who had 18 pregnancies (seven of them miscarriages) and died at 49.

Where to watch

You cover 0/377 episodes +20 with the plan · 5%

Your services

With the plan

Not covered

PBS

Subscription

357/377

Also available on 1

YT

• YT

  YouTube TV

  Subscription

  315/377

  Watch

Every episode is already streaming. Subscribe only while you're watching.

377 episodes · subscribe while you watch, cancel anytime

See your month-by-month plan → Track