The Beginning of a New Era - The Advent of the Pill

Secondary Navigation Menu

• Introduction
  • Beginnings
  • The Long Reign of the Union nationale
  • Henceforth
  • A Precursor of the Quiet Revolution
• Education
  • Brother Anonymous
  • The Creation of the Ministry of Education
  • The Parent Report
  • CEGEPs and the Université du Québec
  • Greater Access of Women to Education
• The New Role of the State
  • The Advent of the Welfare State
  • Election of the First Woman to the Legislative Assembly
  • The Tiger Team
  • Return to Power of the Union nationale
  • A Real Civil Service
• Reclaiming the Economy
  • The Nationalization of Electricity
  • The Société générale de financement
  • The Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and the Régie des rentes
• The Affirmation of Quebec
  • The Sovereignty Movement
  • Vive le Quebec libre
  • Relations between Quebec and Ottawa
  • The Délégation générale du Québec in Paris
  • The Front de Liberation du Quebec
  • Bill 63
• Culture
  • The L'Osstidcho
  • Les belles-soeurs (The Sisters-in-law)
  • Humour
  • The Era of Chansonniers
  • Filmmaking in Quebec
  • Literature in Quebec
• Social Realities
  • The Formation of Leftist Movements
  • The Decline of Religion
  • Expo 67
  • Demanding Unionism
• Women's Revolution
  • The Advent of the Pill
  • The Feminist Affirmation
  • The Femmes d'aujourd'hui Show
  • Women Storm the Labour Market
  • The Bird Commission
• Epilogue

Home > Events > Women's Revolution > The Advent of the Pill

The Advent of the Pill

"The Pill is great,
though double-edged;
It marks the victory
of lovers over history" (translation)

Sur Sourire, La pilule d'or, 1967.

Something New Welcomed with Eagerness and Relief

At the request of a woman, Dr. Gregory Goodwin Pincus, an American biologist specializing in parthenogenesis, perfected the first contraceptive pill in 1956. The discovery of this molecule was to be a determining factor. A bomb was launched. It was the beginning of the contraceptive revolution. In 1960, the American government authorized the commercialization of this new product. But many Americans did not wait for permission from the authorities to obtain the desired pill. In 1959, more than 500 000 among them took the necessary means to have it prescribed by their physician to relieve menstrual pain. A few months after the United States, the Conservative government of John Diefenbaker also allowed the sale of the anovulantory pill, but not to all women. Pleading gynaecological problems, Quebecers also purchased the pill. Some physicians were reticent to prescribe it. Women simply went to see more accommodating physicians, informing others of the names of physicians more open to the idea.

The Pill, a Revolution for Women

The pill was quickly embraced by many women. They acclaimed and welcomed it with enthusiasm. Finally, there was an end to complicated diaphragms, so painful to install. The contraceptive pill was simple to use, effective and cheap; stopping its use could lead to conception. The advent of the pill marked the break between sexuality and procreation. Sociologist Evelyne Sullerot wrote that the pill "gave women the freedom to take their time, anticipate things, explore, make mistakes, make plans, get an education, join the labour force, change their minds /.../and, in a word, choose" (translation).

Related events

• The Decline of Religion
• The Feminist Affirmation

Related events

• The Feminist Affirmation

Related years

• Before 1959
• 1960