Fighting for the pill in Japan
It took until 1999 for Japanese women to be allowed to take the contraceptive pill.
Witness History · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
After decades of campaigning in Japan, the pill was finally legalised in 1999. In contrast the male impotency drug Viagra was approved for use in just six months, and legalised before the contraceptive pill for women. Politician Yoriko Madoka pushed hard for the right to take the pill and told Rebecca Kesby that sexism and male dominance in Parliament is why it took so long.
(Photo: A collection of contraceptive pills. Getty Images)