When we think about the invention of the birth control pill in 1960, we usually picture the rise of the feminist movement, women’s liberation, and the dawn of the sexual revolution. But there is a hidden history to contraception in America, one where religious leaders were some of its most fierce champions.
On Monday, July 20, at 7 PM, our community has a unique opportunity to dive into this fascinating history. The Boulder JCC, in partnership with Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder Hadassah, and the Women of Har HaShem, will host Samira K. Mehta in conversation with Rabbi Ruth Gelfarb for an in-depth discussion of Mehta’s compelling new book, God Bless the Pill.
In God Bless the Pill, Mehta, an associate professor of women and gender studies and director of the Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, uncovers a surprising mid-twentieth-century reality. Far from universally opposing birth control, many Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish voices actively promoted it. These religious figures believed that contraception was a vital tool to strengthen marriages and build stable, prosperous homes. By allowing couples to plan their families, they argued that birth control could curb divorce rates by fostering emotionally and sexually dynamic marriages. Furthermore, they believed family planning would prevent the financial strain of having "too many" children, ultimately fueling the growth of a thriving, upwardly mobile postwar middle class. For these leaders, contraception wasn't a rebellion against faith, but rather a central part of God's plan for the modern American family.
This evening promises to be an enlightening look at the intersection of faith, history, and social change. Following the conversation between Mehta and Rabbi Gelfarb, attendees are invited to stay for a dessert reception and book signing. Copies of God Bless the Pill will be available for purchase on-site, courtesy of the Boulder Book Store.
The program takes place on Monday, July 20, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. To sign up for the book talk with Samira Mehta, register for the program on the Boulder JCC website.