Until the early 20th century, the term ‘family planning’ was largely unheard of, at least as an organized movement. People still tried to plan their families by spacing each birth. However, seldom were families limited to one or two children. The individual attributed to introducing the idea of birth control is also the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger. What started in 1916 as a small birth control clinic in Brownsville, Brooklyn turned into 600 centers operated by 49 local affiliates. Notable coverage was provided through the primary form of media at the time: newspapers and magazines like The New York Times and Harper’s Weekly. This continued into television and theatre screens once these media became mainstream in the post-war period. Was this just another means of educating the masses and promoting social well-being? Sentiments were divided as many considered films on family planning to be a form of propaganda. In this article, we will explore both sides of history to remove the haze around this discussion.

America’s Beloved Cartoon Duck Used to Promote Contraception

One of the first bold attempts to introduce family planning and contraception to a wide audience was made by Disney. That should come as no surprise since this is a decade that was pivotal for Disney animation, the 1960s. In 1967, Rockefeller’s Population Council commissioned the film ‘Family Planning’ featuring the classic Donald Duck. His first appearance may have been in The Wise Little Hen (1934) but by the 60s, Donald had become Disney’s shining star. His role as a doctor in the film made him an influential figure as far as population control was concerned. The film revolves around a nuclear family on the verge of experiencing disaster if too many children are born. Donald (as the doctor to the rescue) shares the concept of family planning. He explains its benefits while discussing the importance of caring for children and the freedom to choose family size. The latter is mainly possible due to various contraceptive methods, referred to as “pills” and “simple devices” in the film.

Weaving Family Planning into the Fabric of Daily Life

Disney’s efforts with Family Planning were seen as both responsible and sinister. It had sparked controversy, which would only get worse with later productions. Since then, over 250 films have been made on family planning and contraception. Let's look at some of the most noteworthy ones -
  • About Conception and Contraception (1972) - A silent animated film that illustrates how various birth control devices function.
  • Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) - This film explores how teenage distractions can have serious consequences, especially in terms of conception.
  • 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (2007) - The story follows the tense situations of a teen who seeks an illegal abortion with her friend’s support.
  • Silent Choices (2007) - This is a documentary film that explores the impact of abortion on African American women.
  • Red Pill (2016) - This movie is all about understanding the polarizing Men’s Rights Movement and the need for feminism.

Cynics Call Out the Colorful Propaganda

Through real-life stories and experiences, films on family planning managed to resonate with a large audience. Some of the main reasons why it was believed that such films were needed include -
  • Increased awareness of population overgrowth and family planning
  • Promoting choice and autonomy over one’s body
  • Responsible parenting
  • A rise in informed decisions
In short, family planning films were aired merely as an educational tool. This sentiment was not shared by everyone. Films on planned parenthood, especially contraception and abortion, garnered significant criticism. Firstly, cynics highlighted the fact that the Population Council had its origins in the eugenics movement. To them, such films aimed to gradually eliminate specific population groups. Secondly, the sham of women's empowerment was brought to light. Did such films empower women to make informed choices? It appeared to be a lose-lose scenario given how deadly all alternatives could be. Let's walk through them one by one:

The Pill

One of the first contraceptive methods was the birth control pill. Planned Parenthood shares that 500,000 women were using it by 1959 to regulate their menstrual cycle. Simultaneously, they “enjoyed” the contraceptive benefits. Let's review the second half a bit. Over the decades, the pill has significantly impacted women’s health and fertility trends. Women have suffered from side effects like headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, infertility, and more. These were just short-term risks. In the long run, the pill’s side effects are even more serious, including cardiovascular problems and cancer. Again, the same question lingers: what's the true cost of sexual rights and female empowerment?

Other Alternatives Like IUDs

The first intrauterine device (IUD), called Lippes Loop, dates back to 1962. Donald’s reference to ‘simple devices’ may not have simple implications. Women throughout the history of birth control have faced injuries due to these devices. For instance, the Dalkon Shield of the 1980s caused an array of serious injuries like pelvic infection, infertility, and even death. The device was eventually banned and numerous lawsuits were filed against its manufacturer, A.H. Robins. Even today, the safety of IUDs is under scrutiny. For instance, the Paragard IUD has caused injuries like pelvic inflammatory disease, organ damage, and internal bleeding. According to TorHoerman Law, a design defect causes the device to disintegrate inside the uterus. The broken parts may tear through the uterine cavity, cervix, or the vagina. Even in this case, lawsuits have been filed against CooperSurgical, the manufacturer of Paragard. The Paragard lawsuit settlement amounts can range between $25,000 and $200,000. Despite the long-term effectiveness of IUDs, the hidden costs are too high.

From Family Planning to a Population Crisis

There may be some natural birth control or family planning methods to choose from. WebMD shares them as tracking one’s ovulation, the rhythm method, and the standard “days” method. Besides these, total abstinence is undoubtedly the most natural and the most effective. However, it may be lacking in terms of practicality. On a more serious note, the conversation of family planning may soon become obsolete. It seems like the ‘educational tool’ was successful in achieving its goal of population control. Countries worldwide are now facing the looming threat of massive population decline rates. Eastern Europe and Japan are in the lead due to emigration, aging populations, and low fertility rates. Perhaps it is time for world leaders to urge citizens to have more babies. A subtle move along similar lines was made by China when it changed its long-standing one-child policy to a three-child policy. Collectively, are we out of the frying pan and into the fire? Only time will tell but, indeed, too much of anything good is never truly good. Did the family planning films take into consideration the possibility of a population crisis? That's hard to say, but they do bring to attention the power of mass media. At the end of the day, has it been about education or propaganda all along? The answers may still be divided but two things are certain: the influence has worked and it has backfired from where we stand today.