Last week, Jen wrote in the comments to our discussion about sexless romance, It almost bugs me when the historicals do have sex, because I know there are some primative birth control methods, but the heroines never seem to use them.
I have to admit to being a complete noob when it comes to the history of birth control options. I’ve read a fair share of romances wherein the hero uses a sheath of one sort or another, or introduces the heroine to such a device for pre-marital canoodling, but female birth control options? I have been pondering the idea for a good few hours now, and I’m having a hard time remembering a romance wherein the heroine practiced birth control. I recall a few “chicken’s bladder of blood” scenarios to hide an absence of virginity, but active birth control usage in an historical? My memory, admittedly, is horrible, but I’m drawing a blank.
But as Jen points out, there were historical methods available. Cast Western even has an entire collection of historical birth control devices, which includes the IUD and crocodile dung.
The Wikipedia article is particularly interesting, including this ‘misconception:’
Sneezing or urinating after sex are also completely ineffective, they do not prevent pregnancy and are not forms of birth control.
But alas it does not describe what folks did way, way back in the day, when locked in passion in the way back seat – if the carriage even had a way back seat.
Other articles, including one from Yale discuss varying types of suppositories and barrier methods, indicate that with the exception of the modern birth control pill in 1960, “there are no new methods” of birth control.
So why isn’t there birth control amongst the heroines in historical romance? I’d say there’s two reasons: one, it’s just not sexy. But more importantly, it messes up that odd requirement of sexual purity for the heroine. Candy and I were discussing this recently – there is a demand and expectation of virginity on the part of the heroine, and if there is an absence of hymen due to a man who is not the hero, it’s explained by several weary plot devices. Either, for example, she’s a widow (who of course has never known an orgasm), or she’s been induced into sexual relations by some nefarious and pitiable reasons that serve to restore nobility to her non-virginal self. The issue of virginity casts a wide shadow on heroines in historical romance, even as my cursory search for historical birth control revealed a number of folkloric methods that might easily have been passed from maid to maiden lady.
What’s your take? Are there romances that feature contraceptive-savvy heroines? Or are virginity and sexual purity a pair of powerful expectations on the part of the reader to the point where contraceptive knowledge would damage the heroine in our eyes?
The withdrawal method isn’t a statistically safe method of birth control, but if you’re a writer of historical romance, it’s about as effective as any other available method. The reason I use it on occasion in my novels is that it’s a nod to the characters having an idea of pregnancy possibility and prevention, it’s a plot device that shows the couple has not yet built up to the level of intimacy where they want to have children together, or it’s a plot device to allow an unplanned pregnancy.
Regardless, for anyone reading this column thinking we’re offering a primer on birth control, all I can say is, “Kids, don’t try this at home!”
Little Miss Spy, the “verification words” are the things in the pink boxes that we have to type to prove we aren’t robots so that we can post. Sometimes people add them to the bottom of their comment if we think they’re weirdly appropriate to the conversation.
Although withdrawl isn’t the most scientific or foolproof way, it was the BC of choice for my hubby and I and we were child free for 13 years. Then we decided it was time for said child and gave it a shot, within a month I was preggers. So although I don’t suggest everyone trying it, it definitely worked for us. So I can buy it when they use it in a historical romance. Now in a contemporary, I would prefer a condom being used because of STDs. For some reason it really icks me out when they don’t and not because of the pregnant factor. I just think of all the icky diseases out there. Yuck. How romantic is that?
Just my $.02.
I think I’m with the poster upthread who says that she enjoys the fantasy escape, for the most part. I want to be swept up in passion when I’m reading a romance. I get swept up in pragmatism every day—I already know what it’s like to stop in the middle and go get something, or to try and remember if a pill’s been taken or how many days do you have until Danger Time (or Target Time if that’s where you’re aiming). Part of me kinda likes the magic vajayjays, and I wonder if it’s not some sort of subliminal message to women saying, “yes, Virginia, your vagina can be the Happiest Place On Earth!”
In contemporary romances, I’m more inclined to believe that BC is covered offstage, so to speak. A housekeeping necessity that’s taken care of but doesn’t need to be dwelled upon—like trips to the bathroom. If I like the characters and identify with them enough, I will assume that they’re intelligent enough to take precautions where warranted. I would like to believe that BC has become so ubiquitous these days that having it on hand is like eating breakfast—it’s safe to assume that even if the author didn’t come out and say it, it’s there.
The writer in me says—it depends on the tone of the book, where the sex is, and what the characters having it are like. The decision not to use protection can be a conscious decision on the author’s part, to indicate the heroine/hero’s unconscious decision to think it’s okay to mix DNA with this person. It may not be realistic, but it can be very believable. I’m also of the mind that lots of stories don’t highlight BC because the author doesn’t feel the need to make a “statement” about it.
If you put romance novels into the cannon of romantic literature, the idea of the virgin/pure heroine is compulsory. The idea of the beloved as someone who is pure and untouchable (and related in some strange way to the Virgin Mary…I’ve never quite understood the cult of the virgin) is the standard in the romantic tradition of literature. As is standard the idea of dick-death (or some kind of “emotional fidelity”) when a man falls in love with his woman – I’m reading an interesting book called the Halved Soul that talks about some of this.
It’s no great leap, then to the idea that a “pure” woman would not know about such things, even though the reality for most women is that they did. Before the Victorian Era, sexual attitudes were much more liberal and women talked among themselves, especially about how to keep from conceiving because you could kill yourself bearing too many children too often.
Still, the idealized notion of a true love involves a loss of control, being swept away in the moment of love, and doesn’t really lend itself well to stopping to put in/on the (somewhat useless) sponge or sheath (which, being sheep’s gut, was permeable enough to let through some things like viruses and bacterium, as well as those little sperm).
It’s frustrating to know that young women still don’t plan. My recent male partners have all been raised in the age of HIV, and yet, only one did not ask if we could forego a condom while getting busy. They didn’t bring any, and a couple even acted like they weren’t comfortable with how to put one on! The partner I have now is very comfortable, and it is less of a break in the action with someone who is knowledgeable and willing to wrap up.
For all you ladies who seemed bothered…
I am the one who said that the “withdraw” method works pretty darn well!
(wonder why that is the only part of my message that ppl seem to be commenting about)
Okay to clarify…If you use it properly, than it does work “pretty darn well”! I have been married 2x and I used it for both! I decided to try to concieve for the first time on my birthday weekend. I noticed I was ovulating 3 days before hand (if you don’t know how to tell when are ovulating by discharge change alone…research it) Lo and behold, first try and we now have a 9 month old baby girl!
For those of you who doubt what I just said…I KNOW for a fact it was the one weekend we did not use the withdraw method because my man had been out of the country and that was when I visited him!
So once again, NO it is not fool proof (few methods are) and I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone (especially if you are not in a manogamous relationship), but used correctly it DOES work “pretty darn well”!
All I know is, I’m immensely grateful I don’t have to worry about that shit anymore.
By the way, a truly, horrifically realistic depiction of late-nineteenth-century abortion practices can be found in Madness of a Seduced Woman by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer, a novel published in the early 1980s I vigorously recommend. If you Google the title, you’ll find reviews and probably copies of it.
Well. I seem to have gotten people a little heated one way or another on the withdrawel method. as Emily said verrrrryyy comically, “Plus the teachers made it sound like anywhere above the kneecaps or below the waist was the Danger Zone for free-falling spooge, and those hardy spelunking swimmers would find a way to flip-flop into your uterus in a manner similar to a newborn kangaroo clambering into the pouch.” Hahahah. It makes me laugh, and it is so very true. At the same time, I do not condemn anyone choosing to use it. I am simply saying that if someone were to come across this thread I hope they do not take it in that withdrawal is a foolproof plan to prevent preggers-time. I am friends with a woman who was a teenage mom, and she had sex once, using the withdrawal method: there is sperm in pre ejaculation too. so, murphy’s law.. she got pregnant. BC, my foot. Also, thanks to whoever it was ( i am sorry I don’t remember!) who explained the words at the bottom. I am now incredibly enlightened! yay!Also: ooh before I forget. I am not talking in the sense of romance here. In a romance novel, fine.. if you wanna have pulling out, be my guest… even though it makes me feel squicky.:)
P.S. The success rate of withdrawal: 73%
Of Condoms: 99%
It requires a lot of trust, that people in non monogamous relationships don’t have built up between them.
I must correct myself: only some non-monogomous relationships. I do not mean to be unsensitive. please ignore<3
Also, the book “Madness of a Seduced Woman” sounds interesting. I will need to look that up!
I am one of the people who prefers that bc be utilized, partly because my family has always been very promiscuous and there have been many unplanned pregnancies. I’m one of seven (confirmed) kids, with an unknown number of potential half siblings (my dad traveled the world for a while.)
Birth control can be both romantic and virtuous, and I would feel irresponsible if I wrote otherwise.
As to the true love rush? If he loves me, he’ll want both of us safe too.
In historicals, I like the idea of historically appropriate preventions, partly because it’s interesting.
Know the most annoying thing about using condoms? Opening the damn wrappers! What the hell is UP with that? Jesus H, could they make those things more impossible to get into? You practically have to have a pair of scissors by the bed to get into the damn things. (Not that I do that, because sharp things + condom = Not A Good Idea.) Amazing how romance characters just whip those things out without a moment’s fumbling! And slide ‘em on without any trouble, even if the author previously mentioned that his/her hands were trembling with desire, which, when combined with a little slippery rolled-up thing, might be a cause for problems.
However, this does remind me of that scene in Never Been Kissed where Drew Barrymore shoots the condom into the teacher’s face… I almost choked to death and died because of that scene, I laughed so hard. Realism! HA!
I’m totally fascinated by the whole contraception issue-possibly because I’m an ex-catholic. I always try to write realistic sex scenes in my historicals which include references to contraception or the lack of it.
In my latest book, “Antonia’s Bargain” the Regency hero offers to use contraception, (the cat gut condoms) but tells the heroine, who is afraid of getting pregnant that even this might not work-can’t try and be fairer than that!
So some of us do try-it’s such an important theme in my writing that I have to mention it!
In fairness to all parties here, withdrawal and the rhythm method are two different things, though possibly used in conjunction. *g*
But is condom use really 99% effective? I’ve never heard that. Hell, female sterilization is only 99.7 or something. I thought condoms were more like 95% which was frightening enough to get me on the pill, quick as an ovulating bunny.
But is condom use really 99% effective? I’ve never heard that. Hell, female sterilization is only 99.7 or something. I thought condoms were more like 95% which was frightening enough to get me on the pill, quick as an ovulating bunny.
If used *properly,* latex condoms are 99% effective. It’s user error that drops them down to 95%, whether it be from not putting them on properly,or having them break in the middle of things, due to lubrication issues, or even not getting them on in time (pre-ejaculate can carry the little swimmers, and if you’re a Fertile Myrtle,that can spell an uh-oh).
Condoms, like the pill and any other method of birth control, have that variable of User Interface that can lead to failure. And since they are manufactured products, the manufacturing process has a small percentage rate of failure as well.
Anything that doesn’t involve a barrier has a fluctuation in effectiveness for different people. The Pill alters your hormones, but if you have strong hormones, it can be less effective (Mini-pills have worked just fine for some women, while I know some of my son’s preschool classmates are *there* because of the mini-pill – it just wasn’t enough hormones to prevent their moms from ovulating). The rhythm or calendar method only works effectively for women with 28-30 day cycles.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and recommend Toni Weschler’s “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” because in my opinion it explains the process of the fertility cycle hella better than that stupid book with the flowers on it from seventh grade.
Just ask my college roommate how effective it is. She’ll show you the 12 year old proof of that one.
And, to clear up any statistics that are being thrown out, here’s a link to Planned Parenthood’s statistics.
Go to the professionals for the data.
Ooooh… Susan Johnson, aka She Who Wrote Erotica Before It Was The Latest Thing.
I freaking LOVE her books, and own ‘em all. It was refreshing to find and author that writes hot hot hot without sacrificing historical accuracy. They’re the first romances I ever read with FOOTNOTES, for crying out loud.
Which makes me think that it’s time for re-reads…you know, solely for research purposes.
This is totally off-topic, but I’m working on an assignment about Library of Congress Subject Headings, and just giggled inappropriately over the heading “French letters.” Yes, I was searching for headings related to French literature, but I apparently have the sense of humor of an extremely nerdy, well-informed fourteen-year-old.
Okay, I clicked the planned parenthood site and… outercourse? What what? Are we talking armpit sex here? Because now I’m thinking ‘pit-chlamydia and it’s not pretty.
PP uses “outercourse” to describe putting it anywhere you can put it besides the vagina. So yes, armpit sex would fall into that catagory, but I’m guessing they encounter oral, anal, between the legs, et cetera, more often.
Thank you very much for the clarification Rosemary. To each her own.
Hmm… I think of a few at least:
Eloisa James’ FOOL FOR LOVE
Candice Hern’s IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT
Candice Hern’s JUST ONE OF THOSE FLINGS (er… if you count pulling out at the last moment birth control. A misinformed type of birth control, at any rate)
Hmm… that’s all I can think of at the moment.
I remembered another recent one – Only a Duke Will Do by Sabrina Jeffries. Heroine is a virgin, but works with “fallen women” and learns about the vinegar-soaked sponge. Of course she only uses it because she is terrified of dying in childbirth!
I’m currently rereading Liz Carlyle’s A Woman of Virtue and a secondary hero has promised to try not to knock up his wife any more. I’m really curious about his plan, since he is a Reverend. How did the clergy feel about BC/withdrawel in the Regency?
re other comments – I also know it as a whore’s bath. Think I heard it from my mom. Good ole mom.
How did the clergy feel about BC/withdrawal in the Regency?
I’m interested in this, too, especially since someone else commented that paddlin’ up the chocolate creek was another method used by couples not desiring any more babies. So, Church, what say you—birth control, or sodomy?
humming “Every sperm is sacred, every sperm is great! if a sperm gets wasted, God gets quite irate…”
Hilarious. I always lose respect for a hero that will put it in without thinking of protection. There are so many ways to canoodle that don’t involve full-on intercourse.
The sweetest thing was (I think) Lord Harry by Catherine Coulter. If it’s not that one, it’s one I was reading at the same time. The hero pleasures the heroine with fingers instead of taking the risk before marriage. Seriously embittered when men can’t get creative for the sake of one who is “love of my life” and “the only woman I see” etc. Idiots. I just lose a bit of respect, and any idea that the guy had an imagination.
keyword: light86
Re: womens’ knowledge of BC and reproduction. I read of the case of a nineteenth-century Austrian princess who was seduced and impregnated by a footman because she was kept so ignorant of her own body she didn’t know what he was doing!The family then tossed her out. Then there’s the story about the married woman who went to her doctor because she was pregnant and didn’t know where the baby would emerge! Kind of reminds me of the abstinence-only dears today.
Off-topic, but in the same general physical area:
You know what pisses me off about the state of virginity in romance novels? When the freaking author doesn’t know where the hymen IS, let alone what it feels like, and has her hero’s dick half-way to Timbuktu before he finds himself “encountering a barrier.” Oh, it hurts. No, not there, it hurts my brain!
Verification code: section55