With the exception of condoms and vasectomies every type of birth control is for women. Even then the value of using a condom is stressed to both sexes to the point where using one seems to not be a gender issue but an issue that couples must discuss among themselves. As a result men are left with one 'out', having to have a literal operation. A little excessive and invasive, no?
I think birth control needs to be more of a shared issue than one that is foisted upon women. This is not a viewpoint scientists necessarily disagree with, as according to Professor Lisa Campo-Engelstein, a male birth control pill has been in the works for over half a century.
"It has been presumed that men will simply be disinterested in taking a pill to prevent conception. So, the responsibility of using birth control stays with women."
However, capitalism must rear its ugly head as an over the counter version of this pill doesn't look like it's coming any time soon, because of lack of funding for the product. It has been presumed that men will simply be disinterested in taking a pill to prevent conception. So, the responsibility of using birth control stays with women.
Despite disinterest a third of sexually active men in Britain say they would consider using hormonal contraception, like the pill or the implant which is coincidentally the same proportion of women who currently use such medication (as of 2019).
I think what we need to generate is a better rhetoric around men potentially using products like this. Without this then whatever form of contraception scientists cook up - whether a pill, an implant or a gel - would not be sold commercially making the discussion a pointless one.
The pill is the most popular form of contraceptive in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and is widely used in North America and Africa. It has allowed women autonomy over their own bodies and fertility levels without male involvement. Women can pursue higher education, career advancements and more without the worry they will become pregnant. To me the wide spread use of contaception is a huge step forward for women's rights, and I am certainly not saying that men should start taking this (hypothetical) pill and women should stop.
But, if men perhaps took a little more accountability, then we might live in a world that's a little more equal. After all in this modern world surely the emotional, social, financial, and time-related burdens of contraception shouldn't fall just to women - not even to mention the many side effects.