English
The constant controversies about different birth control methods and the legality of abortions often centre around religious and political beliefs. Almost everyone has an opinion about these subjects, but only occasionally do we really base our beliefs on historical facts, which could widen our perspective and help us to analyze the present with more clarity.
How can we understand something we don’t know the origins of? Taking this question as a starting point, Viennese gynaecologist Christian Fiala began the Museum of Birth Control and Abortion in Vienna. This unique museum gives you insight on the history of a topic that has been outlawed or taboo for centuries, although a few ancient cultures like the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans didn’t consider it to be unacceptable.
Whether if you’re in favour or against abortion and birth control, visiting this museum will give you excellent hints of what family planning nowadays means. All the documentation and data is a result of a huge interest and effort that doctor Fiala put into rising awareness about reproductive health matters, so that medical and political advances in this field shall be appreciated. In addition to his investigative work in Uganda and Thailand about HIV he has opened a hospital in Vienna.
Although the museum is rather small, it is full of important information, so much so that the guided tours are up to 90 minutes long. In the exhibition space dedicated to abortion you can find antique condoms, the first pills, even a bidet and toilet accessories that were meant to facilitate the washing of the vagina after intercourse in order to prevent conception. There is a vast amount of information about abortion, presenting different procedures and objects used in order to interrupt pregnancy in past times, or even today in its illegal form. The MUVS allows us to evaluate and appreciate current birth control methods and how their use prevents death and suffering of millions of people. It also puts legalisation processes into context by showing how hurtful and dangerous this practice has been for women when illegal.
The ticket price is 8 euros and for people under 22 the price is only four euros. The MUVS opens its doors from Wednesday to Saturday from 2pm-6pm. Exclusive 90 minute long group tours can be requested previously and out of normal schedule.
Visiting the museum of birth control and abortion invites you to look at the way how humans have dealt with sexuality and birth control over time. So instead of watching TV in an apartment in Vienna, go and pay this museum a visit, in order to receive first hand information about this interesting subject.
Tags: abortions, birth control, reproductive health, Vienna, museums in Vienna, interesting museums, extraordinary museums, Christian Fiala, MUVS, bidet, condoms, antique condoms, sexuality birth control methods, history of the pill, gynaecologist in Vienna, Museum fuer Verhutung und Schwangerschaftsabbruch
