Nelson Pill Hearings
Encyclopedia
In 1970, Barbara Seaman
brought the dangers of combined oral contraceptive pill use to the attention of Senator Gaylord Nelson
with her book The Doctors Case Against the Pill. Nelson, who at the time was also busy organizing the first Earth Day
, called Senate hearings in January 1970 to investigate the problems Seaman's book addressed -- that many women experienced severe side effects such as decreased sex drive, weight gain, heart problems, blood clots, and depression
, but did not know that oral contraceptives were the cause.
Barbara Seaman
, Alice Wolfson
, and other women who had been involved in abortion
demonstrations, decided to attend the hearings on Capitol Hill. At the hearings, these women were struck by the complete absence of testimony from anyone who had actually taken the pill, as only men testified on the safety of the pill.
During the proceedings, Alice Wolfson
jumped up and asked why no women were testifying. The media immediately turned its focus onto her. She demanded that women's experiences be taken into testimony. She also shouted, "Why is there no pill for men?" and "Why are 10 million women being used as guinea pigs?" And, " Why had you assured the drug companies that they could testify? Why have you told them that they could get top priority? They're not taking the pills, we are!"
When Senator Nelson stated, "We are not going to permit the, uh, proceedings to be interrupted in this way... If you ladies would, ah...sit down..." Wolfson replied, "I don't think the hearings are any more important than our lives."
At the hearings, Wolfson met Barbara Seamen. During the remainder of the Nelson pill hearings, the two women organized other women to position themselves in the audience and to protest outside Congress, where they announced their concerns about the pill. They also decided to create a nationwide network to educate women about potentially harmful side effects of the pill. As a result of the Nelson pill hearings, a pamphlet outlining risks and side effects was required in every pill packet. After the hearings, Seaman and Wolfson were joined by Phyllis Chesler
, Belita Cowan, and Mary Howell
, and together they founded the National Women's Health Network
.
Barbara Seaman
Barbara Seaman was an American author, activist, and journalist, and a principal founder of the women's health feminism movement.-Early years:Seaman, whose parents, Henry J...
brought the dangers of combined oral contraceptive pill use to the attention of Senator Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Anton Nelson was an American politician from Wisconsin who served as a United States Senator and governor. A Democrat, he was the principal founder of Earth Day.-Public service and leadership:...
with her book The Doctors Case Against the Pill. Nelson, who at the time was also busy organizing the first Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
, called Senate hearings in January 1970 to investigate the problems Seaman's book addressed -- that many women experienced severe side effects such as decreased sex drive, weight gain, heart problems, blood clots, and depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, but did not know that oral contraceptives were the cause.
Barbara Seaman
Barbara Seaman
Barbara Seaman was an American author, activist, and journalist, and a principal founder of the women's health feminism movement.-Early years:Seaman, whose parents, Henry J...
, Alice Wolfson
Alice Wolfson
Alice Wolfson, a Barnard graduate and former Fulbright Scholar, is a veteran political activist in women's reproductive health issues, a lawyer, and a co-founder of the National Women's Health Network....
, and other women who had been involved in abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
demonstrations, decided to attend the hearings on Capitol Hill. At the hearings, these women were struck by the complete absence of testimony from anyone who had actually taken the pill, as only men testified on the safety of the pill.
During the proceedings, Alice Wolfson
Alice Wolfson
Alice Wolfson, a Barnard graduate and former Fulbright Scholar, is a veteran political activist in women's reproductive health issues, a lawyer, and a co-founder of the National Women's Health Network....
jumped up and asked why no women were testifying. The media immediately turned its focus onto her. She demanded that women's experiences be taken into testimony. She also shouted, "Why is there no pill for men?" and "Why are 10 million women being used as guinea pigs?" And, " Why had you assured the drug companies that they could testify? Why have you told them that they could get top priority? They're not taking the pills, we are!"
When Senator Nelson stated, "We are not going to permit the, uh, proceedings to be interrupted in this way... If you ladies would, ah...sit down..." Wolfson replied, "I don't think the hearings are any more important than our lives."
At the hearings, Wolfson met Barbara Seamen. During the remainder of the Nelson pill hearings, the two women organized other women to position themselves in the audience and to protest outside Congress, where they announced their concerns about the pill. They also decided to create a nationwide network to educate women about potentially harmful side effects of the pill. As a result of the Nelson pill hearings, a pamphlet outlining risks and side effects was required in every pill packet. After the hearings, Seaman and Wolfson were joined by Phyllis Chesler
Phyllis Chesler
Phyllis Chesler is an American writer, psychotherapist, and professor emerita of psychology and women's studies at the College of Staten Island...
, Belita Cowan, and Mary Howell
Mary Howell
Mary Catherine Raugust Howell was a physician, psychologist, lawyer, mentor, musician and mother. She was the first woman dean at Harvard Medical School and led the fight to end quotas and open medical schools to women.-Biography:Dr. Howell was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota...
, and together they founded the National Women's Health Network
National Women's Health Network
The National Women's Health Network is a non-profit women's health advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1975 by Barbara Seaman, Alice Wolfson, Belita Cowan, Mary Howell, M.D., and Phyllis Chesler, Ph.D. The stated mission of the organization is to give women a...
.