The contraceptive pill, approved in 1960, had a profound political, economic and social impact on modern America. The pill gave many women something earlier generations lacked: the ability to plan when to have children. Before it became available, many women married young and had children soon after, often with limited control over timing.
As access expanded, so did options. In 1965, the Supreme Court’s decision in Griswold v. Connecticut established a constitutional right to privacy for married couples seeking contraception, a protection later extended to unmarried people. More women delayed marriage, stayed in school longer and entered professional careers.
Today, the effects are still playing out. American women now marry and give birth at later ages, families tend to be smaller, and women have become a dominant presence in graduate schools and professions. The pill brought changes that continue to shape how Americans think about work, relationships and family.
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