Margaret Sanger

Margaret Sanger

By: Shannon Keel

"No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body.” ~Margaret Sanger

Margaret Sanger was widely regarded as the originator of the modern birth control crusade. For her, birth control was vital in the fight for women’s equality. Sadly, that fight is still valid today. 

Margaret Sanger was an American activist in the fight for women’s rights in the form of birth control and sex education. On top of these accomplishments, she was also an established writer and nurse. Sanger also coined the term “birth control,” established what is now known as Planned Parenthood, and was extremely influential in creating a public dialogue about women’s reproductive rights.

Sanger was an unconventional figure in activism because her goal was to obtain society’s support for contraception. Previously, not only was birth control illegal, it wasn't even spoken of, treated as a taboo topic by most people. To change this, she created the American Birth Control League in 1921, and just two years later her Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau opened. It was at this clinic that an all-female staff worked, as well as all-female doctors. She also opened a groundbreaking clinic in Harlem, New York City that had an all African-American council. The Bureau was extremely influential in changing public mindset on birth control by keeping detailed records that proved its safety. 

For all of Sanger's accomplishments, she also has some negative connotations. Sanger was a known Eugenicist. Her main goal in creating a dialogue about women's reproduction was to further her goal of a "racially cleansed" world. As horrific as this is, I believe it is important to note that though her intentions may have been horrific, the final product of her work is something that ALL women are benefitting from today. 

Sex education and women's rights are something that I myself am very passionate about. Having had an entirely Catholic education prior to college, the most sex education I ever had was abstinence, and right to life. The fight that Sanger gave a voice to back in the 1920's is still extremely pertinent today. I personally believe to create a society and culture that is knowledgeable and responsible, we need to have a solid foundation of sex education, and a firm support of women's choice and right to autonomy. I believe Margaret Sanger's contributions to society and women's rights outshines her dubious intentions as a racist. We as a society need to learn from our past and acknowledge both failures and accomplishments in women's history, and I believe Margaret Sanger is a fantastic example of this. 

Works Cited:

1. Latson, Jennifer. “Margaret Sanger, Race and Eugenics: A Complicated History.” Time, Time, 14 Oct. 2016, time.com/4081760/margaret-sanger-history-eugenics/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2017. 

2. Sanger, Margaret. “The Eugenic Value of Birth Control Propaganda.” The Public Papers of Margaret Sanger: Web Edition, www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/webedition/app/documents/show.php?sangerDoc=238946.xml. Accessed 12 Sept. 2017.

3. “Margaret Sanger.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017, www.biography.com/people/margaret-sanger-9471186. Accessed 14 Sept. 2017.