Table of Contents

Margaret Sanger

Birth

Margaret Sanger was born on September 14, 1879, in Corning, New York.1)

Family Background

She was the sixth of eleven children in a working-class Irish-American family.2)

Early Tragedy

Her mother, Anne Higgins, died of tuberculosis and cervical cancer, which Sanger believed was exacerbated by having too many children.3)

Nursing Career

Sanger trained as a nurse at White Plains Hospital and the Manhattan Eye and Ear Clinic.4)

Personal Experience

Witnessing the suffering of women who had multiple pregnancies and unsafe abortions inspired her activism.5)

First Marriage

In 1902, she married architect William Sanger, with whom she had three children.6)

Radical Beginnings

Sanger was influenced by the radical politics of the early 20th century, including socialism and labor activism.7)

First Publication

In 1912, she wrote a column on sex education for the New York Call titled “What Every Girl Should Know.”8)

Comstock Laws

Sanger challenged the Comstock Laws, which prohibited the distribution of contraceptives and information on birth control.9)

The Woman Rebel

In 1914, she started her own publication, The Woman Rebel, which advocated for birth control.10)

Indictment

She was indicted for mailing The Woman Rebel under the Comstock Laws but fled to Europe to avoid arrest.11)

European Influence

In Europe, Sanger met birth control pioneers who influenced her thinking and strategies.12)

Birth Control Clinic

In 1916, she opened the first birth control clinic in the United States in Brownsville, Brooklyn.13)

Arrest and Conviction

Sanger was arrested for distributing contraceptives and was convicted, serving 30 days in a workhouse.14)

Publicity

Her arrest and trial brought significant publicity to the birth control movement.15)

American Birth Control League

In 1921, she founded the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood.16)

Birth Control Review

Sanger started this journal in 1917 to disseminate information about birth control and reproductive health.17)

Eugenics Controversy

Sanger's association with the eugenics movement has been a point of controversy, though her primary focus remained on birth control.18)

Family Limitation

She wrote a pamphlet titled “Family Limitation,” which provided explicit information on contraception.19)

Advocacy Abroad

Sanger traveled widely to promote birth control, including to Japan and India.20)

Sterilization

She supported sterilization in cases of hereditary diseases, which has led to criticism of her views on eugenics.21)

Marriage Annulment

Sanger and her husband William separated in 1914 and later divorced; she married J. Noah H. Slee in 1922.22)

Support from Wealthy Patrons

She received financial support from wealthy individuals like John D. Rockefeller Jr.23)

Physicians and Birth Control

Sanger worked to make birth control information available to physicians and integrate it into medical practice.24)

Motherhood in Bondage

In 1928, she published “Motherhood in Bondage,” a collection of letters from women pleading for birth control information.25)

A 1936 court decision (U.S. v. One Package) allowed doctors to prescribe contraceptives, a significant victory for Sanger's cause.26)

Margaret Sanger Research Bureau

She established this in 1923 as a clinic and research center for contraception.27)

International Work

Sanger was a founding member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation in 1952.28)

Influence on the Pill

Her advocacy was crucial in the development of the first oral contraceptive pill, approved in 1960.29)

Autobiography

Sanger published her autobiography, “My Fight for Birth Control,” in 1931.30)

Friendship with H.G. Wells

Sanger was friends with the British writer H.G. Wells, who supported her work.31)

Lectures and Debates

She often lectured and debated on the topic of birth control, facing significant opposition.32)

Legacy in India

Sanger's work influenced Indian leaders like Gandhi and Nehru regarding population control.33)

Collaboration with Scientists

She worked closely with scientists like Gregory Pincus to develop contraceptive methods.34)

Death

Sanger died on September 6, 1966, in Tucson, Arizona.35)

Honors and Awards

She received numerous awards for her work, including from the American Public Health Association.36)

Documentary

Sanger's life and work have been the subject of several documentaries and biographical studies.37)

Criticism

Her views on eugenics and race have been widely criticized and re-examined in recent years.38)

Planned Parenthood

Today, Planned Parenthood is one of the largest providers of reproductive health services in the U.S., a testament to Sanger's impact.39)

In Pop Culture

Sanger has been portrayed in various films, plays, and books, highlighting her complex legacy.40)

Public Speaking

She was known for her powerful oratory skills and ability to sway public opinion.41)

Contraceptive Development

Sanger funded research that led to the development of safer and more effective contraceptives.42)

Contraceptive Development

Sanger funded research that led to the development of safer and more effective contraceptives.43)

Women's Rights Advocate

Beyond birth control, Sanger was a strong advocate for women's rights and gender equality.44)

Health and Hygiene

She promoted broader issues of women's health and hygiene, emphasizing their importance in public health.45)

Historical Impact

Margaret Sanger's efforts have had a lasting impact on reproductive rights and women's autonomy over their own bodies.46)