This little object is very much a reflection of the human spirit,” says Aine Collier, author of The Humble Little Condom: A History ($19, Prometheus Books). Indeed, she adds, few people realize that condoms were used by the ancient Egyptians, who made them out of animal intestines.
Collier tracks the condom through the Middle Ages and the time of Columbus, when rampant syphilis forced condoms into double duty—preventing both pregnancy and disease. In today’s age of HIV/AIDS, she charts how they jumped from drugstores to Wal-Mart, remaining the best protection for serodiscordant sexual partners. But their effectiveness, Collier insists, depends on society’s willingness to embrace them.
“I think that the acceptance of the condom is still very much up in the air and is very culturally bound,” she says. “People are still deeply embarrassed about references to sexuality. And given the fact that the AIDS rates just keep climbing, this baby’s the answer. We need to embrace it and educate, educate, educate.”
And who are you calling little?
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comments 1 - 2 (of 2 total)
Rael Slavensky, Rock Island, 2008-02-05 14:48:57
I would love to read this book! As a health care worker deeply involved in the epidemic since the early 80s, I know how important condoms are, and the barriers to educating the public about their efficacy and proper use.
I do wonder if the author addresses the issues of size, shape, configuration, etc., as well as the 'female' condom. Our government seems to think that we need only one size. Giving out 35K condoms a year, Iknow that this is a huge issue, especially with young men.
Nanci, Olympia, 2007-12-09 18:17:05
Thank you for printing this. It is obvious that what people thinks matters and when the administration actively suppresses accurate medical information we need other sources to champion prevention!
