Conflicts of Capitalism
Condoms as a mass-produced commodity in the US, 1920s-1930s
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36399/GroundingsUG.9.200Keywords:
Condoms, Mass-production, 1920s, 1930s, Techno-economic, MedicalisationAbstract
The emergence of mass-produced condoms in the US during the 1920s and 1930s is considered a prime example of modern industry and big business. By retelling the history of condoms in the US during this period from production to circulation and impact, this article highlights the social and cultural conflicts that shaped the trajectory from brothel necessity to modern commodity. This history corresponds to Arjun Appadurai’s assertion that capitalism is more than a ‘techno-economic design’ and manifests the cultural and social dimensions of modernity. Such a narrative also illuminates the concept of the ‘medicalisation’ of society and highlights its corporeal and material dimensions.
References
A. Appadurai, ‘Introduction: Commodities and the Politics of Value’ in A. Appadurai (ed.), The Social Life of Things: Commodities in Cultural Perspective (Cambridge, 1986), 3-63.
N. Bowman, ‘Questionable Beauty: The Dangers and Delights of the Cigarette in American Society, 1880-1930’ in P. Scranton (ed.), Beauty and Business: Commerce, Gender and Culture in Modern America (Hobohen, 2014), 52-86.
V. L. Bullough, ‘A Brief Note on Rubber Technology and Contraception: The Diaphragm and the Condom’ (1981) 22:1 Technology and Culture 104-111.
J. Campanelli, ‘The Full Cleveland: Tour of Contraceptive Museum’, Cleveland.com: The Plain Dealer Videos, 23 September 2010. Available at: http://videos.cleveland.com/plain-dealer/index.html?tag=birth%20control [Accessed 4.12.14].
M. Canaday, The Straight State: Sexuality and Citizenship in Twentieth-Century America (Oxford, 2009).
L. Dumenil, The Modern Temper: American Culture and Society in the 1920s (NewYork City, 1995).
K. Fisher, Birth Control, Sex and Marriage in Britain, 1918-1960 (Oxford, 2006).
M. Foucault, The History of Sexuality: Vol. 1, An Introduction, (trans.) Robert Hurley (London, 1979).
M. Foucault, Society Must Be Defended: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1965-76, (ed.) Mauro Bertani, Allessandro Ewald & Francois Ewald, (trans.) David Macey (London, 2003).
Z. Frank, and A. Musacchio, ‘Brazil in the International Rubber Trade, 1870-1930’ in S.Topik, C. Marichal & Z. Frank(eds.), From Silver to Cocaine (London, 2006), 271-299.
J. Gamson, ‘Rubber Wars: Struggles over the Condom in the United States’ (1990) 1:2 Journal of the History of Sexuality, 262-282.
R. Ginzburg, ‘State’s Condom Makers Enjoy a Sales Boom’ The New York Times, 23 August 1987.
D. J. Goldberg, ‘Rethinking the 1920s: Historians and Changing Perspective’ (2007) 21:3 Magazines of History, 7-10.
N. E. Himes, Medical History of Contraception (New York City, 1936, reprinted 1963).
‘Julius Schmid’, Who Made America? Available: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/schmid_hi.html [Accessed 4.12.14].
G. D., McCracken, G. D., Culture and Consumption II: Markets, Meaning and Brand Management (Indianapolis, 2005).
A. McLaren, A History of Contraception: From Antiquity to the Present Day (Oxford, 1990).
H. Oatman-Standford, ‘Getting It On: The Covert History of the American Condom’, Collectors Weekly, 16 August 2012. Available: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/getting-it-on-the-covert-history-of-theamerican-condom/ [Accessed 4.12.14].
J. M. Riddle, Eve’s Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West (London, 1997).
G. Ritzer, Enchanting a Disenchanted World: Revolutionizing the Means of Consumption (Thousand Oaks, 1999).
E. W. Said, Orientalism (London, 1978).
R. A. Soloway,‘“The Perfect Contraceptive”: Eugenics and Birth Control Research in Britain and America in the Interwar Years’ (1995) 30:4 Journal of Contemporary History 637-664.
A. Tone, Devices and Desire: A History of Contraceptives in America (New York, 2001).
Trojan, Unrolled: A Tour of Trojan Brand Condoms Manufacturing Facility. Available at: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1425961417001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABGqp0-k~,q_Z_5liv0gJvlx7LJEfkFi7ErnO-N9lO&bctid=1615869173001 [Accessed 4.12.14].
B. S. Turner, The Body and Society: Explorations in Social Theory, 3rd edn. (London, 2008).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2016 Rasmus Randig
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The CC BY 4.0 license is a Creative Commons license. This is a non-copyleft free license that is good for art and entertainment works, and educational works. It is compatible with all versions of the GNU GPL; however, like all CC licenses, it should not be used on software. People are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format; Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. But they must conform to the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Please check individual article PDF copies to see if any additional restrictions apply.
