I was just wondering why Frances told the medical receptionist at the Gynecologist's office she was going to be married? Was she actually harboring the delusion that she and the boy would someday be married, or did she say that because at that time it was the most socially acceptable reason for visiting the Gynecologist to be fitted for a diaphragm? Any thoughts? I love how thought-provoking this movie is.
shareYou must be a young person. No, it's because in those days, you couldn't get a diaphram or birth control pills unless you were married. I supposed she was telling the doctor that she wanted it for her wedding night so she could get one. Some doctors were so strict, they would dispense them without a marriage certificate. I don't know who liberal Canada was about such matters then, but in the South in Louisiana in 1969, she would have had to prove she was married to get one.
shareYes, I'm afraid my ignorance is generational. I had no idea those restrictions existed. Thank you for shedding some light on the context of the time period this film was made.
shareFor those interested about this particular bit of history, the two relevant Supreme Court decisions are Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 (it makes contraception unbannable in cases of married couples) and later on the Eisenstadt v. Baird decision in 1972 (makes it available to unmarried people).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griswold_v._Connecticut
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenstadt_v._Baird
Very interesting. Thanks for the info!
shareThank you! I had no idea that kind of thing went on either.
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