National Geographic is delving into hot-button social issues for a second time this year with its announcement of a new drama The Birth of the Pill.
According to an exclusive statement released to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary will follow a group of four activists who “took on the scientific establishment, the church and cultural norms in their fight to make safe and effective contraception available to millions of women.”
In addition to Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, a noted advocate of eugenics, the quartet also includes philanthropist Katherine McCormick, scientist Gregory Pincus and OB-GYN John Rock (a Catholic who contravened church teaching against the use of birth control).
The drama is certainly well-timed, with debate over taxpayer-funded birth control still roiling. It is unclear whether National Geographic will address this contentious issue, but if it does, a biased perspective is likely. In January, the left-leaning network produced Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric, which examined the cultural shift toward transgender acceptance and gender fluidity.
What is clear is that National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe wants her company to influence the societal dialogue. "We are working with the best storytellers in the world to tell these very human stories that we hope will create global conversation and change the way viewers look at the world around them.”
