Margaret Sanger and the History of Birth Control: 3D Gallery

Margaret Sanger and the History of Birth Control

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Childhood

Margaret Higgins

Born on September 14, 1897 in Corning, NY

Sixth of eleven children

Grew up poor

Father was a stonemason

Mother died due to the strain of numerous pregnancies and miscarriages

Adulthood

Attended Claverack College, Hudson River Institute, and the nursing program at White Plains Hospital.

Married William Sanger and had 3 kids.

While she was a nurse, she mostly worked with immigrant women.

Accomplishments

Margaret launched her own publication called The Woman Rebel in which she advocated for birth control.

In 1916, she opened her own birth control clinic but got arrested.

Later opened another that is today known as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Started the idea for a pill contraceptive that was inexpensive, safe, and effective.

In 1960, the first pill (Enovid) was created.

Impact

Now that women could control their family size by using birth control, the population was largely effected.

After going to jail a couple time and nearly going to court, Sanger was released to discover a group of women looking to support her. They protested and held strikes, fighting for women's rights.

Using Sanger's contraceptives, women could avoid botched abortions, unwanted pregnancies, and fatal miscarriages. This widely impacted female society.

Thesis

Margaret Sanger lead a crucial life that has impacted a countless number of women. Her passion for women’s rights was inspirational to many females. Sanger’s own tragic experiences are what pushed her to advocate her beliefs on birth control. This woman was passionate and brave; always fighting for women’s right to safely control family size. Thanks to Margaret Sanger, females are able to avoid having abortions and dealing with overpopulation within their very own families.

Arguments & CounterArguments

As of March 2019, approximately 16% of women aged 15-44 use an oral contraceptive (National Center for Health Statistics). That’s not including the other 27% that are using other versions of birth control.
“In 1929 Sanger formed the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control to lobby for birth control legislation that granted physicians the right to legally disseminate (distribute) contraceptives” (New York University Margaret Sanger Paper Project). After this accomplishment, Margaret was easily able to begin provide birth control again.
“Sanger became a member of the Women’s Committee of the New York chapter of the Socialist Party, and participated in women’s labor protests, such as strikes” (Michals 2017). Margaret was passionate and brave. Standing up for the rights of females was her job and she loved it.
However, Margaret Sanger’s other opinions could be quite concerning at times. She suggested things like "No woman shall have the legal right to bear a child, and no man shall have the right to become a father, without a permit for parenthood” which she wrote in her fourth article on March 27, 1934. Sanger’s intent was questionable but the outcome that was produced saved countless lives and was truly inspirational. Although it is true that Sanger was most likely a racist. In a letter Dr. Clarence J. Gamble, in 1939, she wrote “We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population…” So yes, Margaret Sanger was probably unfavorable towards African Americans. But most people at this time were still racist and many were also unkind to those of darker skin. It is sad that these were her beliefs but the fact that these views were common cannot be ignored. Margaret Sanger may have neglected the African American population but the work she accomplished with immigrant women was unbelievable.

Works Cited

Michals, Debra. “Margaret Sanger.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017. Dat accessed.
Conley, John J. “Margaret Sanger Was a Eugenicist. Why Are We Still Celebrating Her?” America Magazine, 29 May 2019, www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2017/11/27/margaret-sanger-was-eugenicist-why-are-we-still-celebrating-her.
Biography of Margaret Sanger. The Margaret Sanger Papers Project, New York University. Accessed 1 August 2017 https://www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/aboutms/index.php.
Jones, Jo, et al. “Current Contraceptive Use in the United States, 2006–2010, and Changes in Patterns of Use Since 1995.” 18 Oct. 2012, www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr060.pdf.
Sanger, Margaret. “21 Quotes by Margaret Sanger That Will Probably Make You Sick.” TFP Student Action, 20 Nov. 2017, tfpstudentaction.org/blog/margaret-sanger-quotes.
“Margaret Sanger (1879-1966).” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-margaret-sanger-1879-1966/.
National Center for Health Statistics. “FastStats - Contraceptive Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 Mar. 2019, www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/contraceptive.htm.

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Margaret Sanger and the History of Birth Control