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Thousands of academics are gathering in Vancouver for the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences from June 1-7. They will present papers on everything from child marriage in Canada to why dodgeball is problematic. In its Oh, The Humanities! series, the National Post showcases some of the most interesting research.

One by one, they took the stand. All women, all Francophone, all desperately poor. Most were in their 20s or 30s, but many had 10 children or more.

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In defiance of Depression-era social norms, and under the threat of public shame, they admitted, through an interpreter, that, yes, they’d asked for birth control. Yes, despite the protests of their husbands and priests, they believed it was their right. Only two of more than 20 women said they felt they’d done anything wrong. Infant and child mortality were high — they were worried any more babies they had would die … or that they would. Some admitted to inducing at-home abortions that would not have been necessary if they could have been in touch sooner with Dorothea Palmer, a social worker from the Parents’ Information Bureau who had visited their homes to distribute family planning pamphlets and product samples.