American Literary Centers (from Literature and Life)

In second class citizens describe Adah's visit to the family planning clinic

In second class citizens describe Adah's visit to the family planning clinic.

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Are you referring to chapter 11? In Chapter 11, “Population Control,” Adah went out to a nearby public bath and saw a bird on her way that made her feel optimistic. She thought about how she wanted her children to grow up proud of their race instead of ashamed. After her bath, Adah went to the Family Planning Clinic, where she hoped to get the birth control pill because she did not want to have any more children. At the clinic, she learned her husband would have to sign a form for her to get the pill. She forged Francis's signature, but when she returned to the clinic the next day, another patient showed her the terrible rash she had gotten from taking the pill. Adah decided instead to get the “cap” (144) (also known as a diaphragm) instead. However, when she got home and inserted the cap, Francis became suspicious and Adah admitted everything. He was furious and told her he was going to write home to Nigeria and tell his family. He hit her repeatedly and the Nobles had to come upstairs and intervene. Mr. Noble assured Francis there was nothing wrong with a woman using birth control, but he was still angry. A few weeks after this quarrel, Adah realized she was pregnant again.