The introduction of the contraceptive pill “changed the course of history” for Irish women, an event to mark its 50th anniversary heard today.
Prominent women gathered in Dublin to celebrate the event, as well as the launch of a website to encourage the public to vote on 50 things that have changed Ireland.
Among those in attendance were journalist and television presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, TDs Maureen O’Sullivan and Deirdre Clune, former ministers Liz O’Donnell, Nora Owen and Gemma Hussey, historian Diarmaid Ferriter and radio presenter Tom Dunne.
The event was hosted by Bayer Healthcare, which manufactures the contraceptive pill. The pill was first introduced in the US 50 years ago and it was introduced in Europe in June 1961.
General practitioner and television presenter Dr Nina Byrnes said the pill was a scientific innovation with major social impact.
“It created significant opportunity for women and changed the course of history as women decided to postpone starting a family and went on to further education and into the workforce en masse.
“There is now a huge range of contraceptive options available for women and while there is some research showing a reduction in unplanned pregnancy, there are still many women, some younger, experiencing crisis pregnancies.”
In 1961, there were 277,999 women in employment in Ireland of whom 38,300 (14 per cent) were married. By 2006, this had increased threefold, with 879,800 women in the workforce.
The entry of more married women into the workforce was also affected by the lifting in 1975 of the so-called marriage bar, under which women who married had to leave the workforce.
Prof Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD said the social change brought about by women entering the workforce was profound.
“While there has there been a huge increase in women finishing education, completing third level, entering the workforce, politics, journalism and so on, there is in a sense still a long-way to go. Women are still hugely under-represented across many of the power structures in society and the advances seen in recent decades present new challenges.”
Bayer said that despite the widespread availability of contraception, it was estimated that 50 per cent of pregnancies are unplanned and that 28 per cent of women aged 18-45 have experienced a crisis pregnancy.
The pharmaceutical firm, which pioneered the ingredients in the first contraceptive pill, today launched a website to allow the public vote for 50 things that have changed Ireland.
The five categories include political and social, regulatory and legislative, cultural, media, innovation and technology, and commercial and business.
A judging panel will choose an overall winner.
Judges include Tom Dunne of Newstalk; Dr Nina Byrnes GP, Fintan O'Toole of The Irish Times, businesswoman Krishna De, and publisher Norah Casey of Harmonia.
Bayer said it would donate 50 cent to the Bubblegum Club for every vote cast. The charity provides outings for children who are disadvantaged, or who suffer from life-threatening or debilitating illness.