Midwives, witches, and quacks

The business of birth control is hardly ever a pretty one. For essentially, it is a business centered on a taboo; a business traditionally conducted under a cloak of both personal and commercial secrecy. Until the advent of the pill, indeed, the business of birth control was almost entirely clandestine, with ₃customers₄ rarely flaunting their purchases and sellers wary of trumpeting their wares. Yet it was nevertheless a business Ư a big business at times, and one that both affected and reflected the society in which it occurred. This essay traces the history of the contraceptive market from ancient Egyptian poultices to the modern pill. What emerges is a checkered past with strong, albeit complex, patterns. Specifically, we suggest that the business of birth control has been divided over time into two distinct strands, one composed of small and diffuse suppliers, the other of larger and more powerful industries. The composition of the industry strongly influences both the legitimacy and profitability of its products. Moreover, we demonstrate that business in this industry is not always a passive recipient of social norms. On the contrary, business frequently shapes the boundaries of acceptability, helping to distinguish Ư in its own interest Ư the line between illicit and legitimate trade.