While we have made progress in regards to women’s reproductive rights, the political and moral issues remain in national headlines. In the 19th century, it was largely viewed that contraception encouraged immorality and abortion was considered a dangerous procedure which gave a woman too much freedom. In part due to the efforts of women’s rights crusader, Margaret Sanger, today our views have transformed with contraception methods widely accepted by most. However, abortion has become a dispute of ethics and morality. In fact, the debate on abortion has many factors, including health care safety, religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, and most important women’s rights. Women and their rights to control their own body is central to the
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Sanger, who was a nurse, witnessed the effects of poverty on large families. She felt contraception and birth control being illegal created undue burdens on women and began a crusade to educate women. As a result, she created a newspaper called The Woman Rebel to educate women on birth control methods. For many years, she faced prosecution and prison because of her efforts. Once, she had to flee to England to avoid prison. Before leaving for England, she created an educational pamphlet called Family Limitation which discussed ways to prevent pregnancy. She did eventually return to the United States and faced trial for distribution of this information. However, the charges were dropped. Sanger had received much attention and her efforts would continue. Eventually she opened a clinic for birth control for which she was prosecuted and served 30 days in prison. Sanger never gave up her efforts to overturn the Comstock Law and give women the right to birth control education and access to contraceptives. Sanger also played a role in the creation of oral contraceptives as we know today. She asked the scientist, Gregory Pincus, to create an affordable oral contraceptive for women which would be safe and effective. “In 1957, Enovid, the first oral contraceptive made its debut. Referred to simply a ‘the Pill’ by Pincus” (Katzive, 2015. p 131). Margaret Sanger was a true leader for women’s rights. Her role in the advancements and acceptance of birth control continues to affect women
Sanger, who was a nurse, witnessed the effects of poverty on large families. She felt contraception and birth control being illegal created undue burdens on women and began a crusade to educate women. As a result, she created a newspaper called The Woman Rebel to educate women on birth control methods. For many years, she faced prosecution and prison because of her efforts. Once, she had to flee to England to avoid prison. Before leaving for England, she created an educational pamphlet called Family Limitation which discussed ways to prevent pregnancy. She did eventually return to the United States and faced trial for distribution of this information. However, the charges were dropped. Sanger had received much attention and her efforts would continue. Eventually she opened a clinic for birth control for which she was prosecuted and served 30 days in prison. Sanger never gave up her efforts to overturn the Comstock Law and give women the right to birth control education and access to contraceptives. Sanger also played a role in the creation of oral contraceptives as we know today. She asked the scientist, Gregory Pincus, to create an affordable oral contraceptive for women which would be safe and effective. “In 1957, Enovid, the first oral contraceptive made its debut. Referred to simply a ‘the Pill’ by Pincus” (Katzive, 2015. p 131). Margaret Sanger was a true leader for women’s rights. Her role in the advancements and acceptance of birth control continues to affect women