Interpreting the American Past: Happiness in Marriage

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Deion Clark
11/13/12
Interpreting the American Past

Margaret Sanger, from “Happiness in Marriage” (1926)
What is happiness in marriage? Many people have different ideas of what this means and the attributing factors that cause for a happy marriage. In this article, written by Margaret Sanger, she describes how many young women have been affected by premature pregnancies in which they are not ready, but were pressured to avoid using birth control in that time because it was widely believed to contribute to promiscuity. Margaret was very influential in educating women about birth control so that she could make inexpensive contraception available for the women around the world who needed it. As I talk more, I will discuss the changes Sanger described in married relations in recent generations, the changes she hoped would come about if unplanned pregnancies could be prevented, as well as if debates about birth control and unplanned pregnancies still occur in the U.S. today.
Sager explains that marriage has changed in recent years, and that not too long ago marriage was considered as nothing but a preliminary to motherhood. A girl would be passed from the guardianship of her father to that of a husband, and her one and only job was to the fulfill duties imposed upon her by the man into whose care she was given. She explains that the pain, suffering, and wrecked lives of women and children proved that this type of system didn’t work successfully because the women weren’t necessarily ready and comfortable in their lives yet. Today, she describes women as much more individual, and
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on the same plane of social equality as men. The marriage no longer means that women have to give up their wishes and fulfillments to men, but rather can establish their mutual relationship with each other and arrange lives based on their harmony and chemistry. She then explains that the coming of the first baby means that all problems are aside and preparations are made in order for the baby to born successfully. With that said, Sanger hoped that women could enjoy the early years of a happy marriage life if unplanned pregnancies could be prevented. She describes that in this time a woman attains a spiritual freedom, and acquires self-reliance, poise, strength, as well as a youthful maturity. Motherhood becomes for such a woman not a penalty or punishment, but the road to self-development. Sanger hopes that a happy marriage can be established first so that children are not accidents, or the outcome of chance. There have been debates even up to recent date about birth control and unplanned pregnancies brought to attention by researchers and government. It has been estimated that almost half of all of all pregnancies are unintended, and of those unplanned pregnancies, a further half end in abortion according to an analysis by researchers at the Guttmacher Institute. It has been stated by many debaters that with all this occurring, the best and reliable way to prevent these unplanned pregnancies is through the provision of affordable, accessible contraception. Sanger’s points still prove to be relevant because she states that women need the chance to live through an early marriage in order for her womanhood to have a chance to bloom and attain security, as well as a

3 youthful maturity. The percent of unplanned pregnancies has increased over thirty percent from last year, and all hopes of prevention point to birth control. At the end of the day, this excerpt by Margaret Sanger gave a really good view point on the life of early and modern woman and how they had to deal with the issue of pregnancy. This article was very insightful, especially from the viewpoint of Sanger, who was a strong advocate for birth control in a time where woman were forced into a life they had no control over. As I discussed the changes in married relations Sanger described, the changes she hoped would happen from preventing unplanned pregnancies, and the occurring debates that still existed on this topic, I learned a lot about the mind state of a woman and what they went through a long time ago as well as they hardships they face today.

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[ 1 ]. Margaret Sanger, “Happiness in Marriage,” Pearson Education (1926) http://wpscms.pearsoncmg.com/long_longman_mhlus_0/0,11867,3124807-content,00.html (Accessed November 14, 2012).
[ 2 ]. Erika Christakis, “What Got Lost in the Debate about Birth Control,”time.com, February 20, 2012, http://ideas.time.com/2012/02/20/what-got-lost-in-the-debate-about-birth-control/ ( Accessed November 14, 2012).
[ 3 ]. Marc Kaufman, “Unwanted Pregnancies Rise for Poor Women,” Washington Post, May 5, 2006, final edition, in http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/04/AR2006050400820.html (Accessed November 14, 2012).