Margaret Sanger, a young woman from New York, spoke out, saying that women should take fertility into their own hands. Before a time where common knowledge concerning reproduction was taught to adolescents, Sanger would educate poor families on the streets of New York City on women’s health for no cost. Her reasoning for doing so was to inform the public that limiting family size would allow women more economic opportunities; likewise, it would help put an end to unwanted genetic defects in the American population (Chesworth). It was one of the first nationwide instances of a woman spreading a controversial topic, and nearly the entire population disapproved, although they would eventually benefit from her philosophy. Soon enough, Sanger wrote her opinions and shared her knowledge in a disputed book that argued against the Comstock Law. After 1873, the Comstock Law made it illegal to ship contraceptives; by publishing a book that openly discussed at-home contraception methods, “Family Limitation” led to Sanger’s conviction (Folbre). After her release from the law, she practiced civil disobedience by shipping copies of “Family Limitation” along with physical
Margaret Sanger, a young woman from New York, spoke out, saying that women should take fertility into their own hands. Before a time where common knowledge concerning reproduction was taught to adolescents, Sanger would educate poor families on the streets of New York City on women’s health for no cost. Her reasoning for doing so was to inform the public that limiting family size would allow women more economic opportunities; likewise, it would help put an end to unwanted genetic defects in the American population (Chesworth). It was one of the first nationwide instances of a woman spreading a controversial topic, and nearly the entire population disapproved, although they would eventually benefit from her philosophy. Soon enough, Sanger wrote her opinions and shared her knowledge in a disputed book that argued against the Comstock Law. After 1873, the Comstock Law made it illegal to ship contraceptives; by publishing a book that openly discussed at-home contraception methods, “Family Limitation” led to Sanger’s conviction (Folbre). After her release from the law, she practiced civil disobedience by shipping copies of “Family Limitation” along with physical