The Real Agenda Of "The Business Of Birth Control" Documentary
In 2008, Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein released their first documentary titled “The Business of Being Born.” This documentary examined the increasing medicalization of birth, uncovered unknown risks of giving birth in the hospital, and addressed the high maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States. Almost 15 years later in 2022, their new documentary, “The Business of Birth Control,” explores another important topic in women’s health: the pill.
The Business of Birth Control highlights the historical narrative of the birth control pill and real-life stories of the negative ramifications of its use. Further, the film offers an alternative in fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) which has sparked controversies among pro-hormonal contraception groups, feminists, and medical practitioners who hold fast to the belief that the pill is the only beacon of hope to empower women. But is the rallying cry of these groups really doing the most to empower women? Or, is this response making women believe they can’t trust themselves and their own bodies to monitor their fertility?