Hannah Reynolds

Project Title

Oppressed by Liberation: A History of Intrauterine Device Deployment In Britain after 1970

Academic Supervisors

• Prof Voiletta Hionidou
• Dr Vicky Long

Contact

h.reynolds4@newcastle.ac.uk

 

Project Description

Hannah's PhD project is a social history of the use of intrauterine contraception in Britain with a focus on user experiences. For the most part, Historiography of family planning in twentieth-century Britain is dominated by the pill and generally mentions the IUD as part of a wider narrative of rapid technological development, social change, and newfound access to contraception. Therefore, the use of IUDs in particular has not been adequately explored in Britain as a result.

Investigating the experiences of women who received IUDs after 1970 will shed light on their societal significance. Utilizing feminist publications, medical journals, legal documents, and oral history interviews will provide a comprehensive understanding of women's medical care and capture diverse perspectives not covered in existing narratives. This research aims to contribute to discussions on gendered medical treatment, informed consent, and the dual nature of contraception as both liberating and oppressive.