Women well understood how to restrict birth through timing of sexual intercourse, herbs and abortifacients. I suspect the focus on men's control of women as the means of reproduction came later, in the last five percent or so of human history, with the idea of children as property and labor. One needed to have as many as possible, never mind about women's health or mobility or brainpower. Women's freedom was restricted in order to make sure of the paternity and ownership of children.
Gloria SteinemThere were never that many women stand-up comics in the past because the power to make people laugh is also a power that gets people upset.
Gloria SteinemWe're changing ourselves to fit the world instead of changing the world to fit women.
Gloria Steinemwomen used to be elected only when their husbands died and they became widows. The men found this was too hard on them. That's why they've become feminists.
Gloria Steinem