When sexuality is brought up in conversation, many times, individuals’ minds jump to who someone is sexually attracted. Sexuality also deals with reproductive rights, from birth control to abortion. Thus, sexuality is essential to feminism, even if many people would rather ignore this link. The link between sexuality and feminism is what both Allen and Sanger discuss within the writing, even from different time periods. In addition, these two authors are essential to explaining the different perspectives one can take with sexuality. Through Brenda Allen’s “Sexuality Matters” and Margaret Sanger’s “Birth Control – A Parents’ Problem or Woman’s?” both authors offer answers to the questions about the purpose of birth control, the freedoms’ gained,
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Specifically, with reproductive rights, Sanger (1920) argues that a woman is the only person who decides if a couple were to have a child. Her reasoning stems from the fact that since we do not live within an “ideal society.” If we did live an ideal society, both parents would make the decision together, however, since we do not, the decision falls in the hands of women (Sanger 1920). Similarly, with sexuality, LGBTQ individuals many times have to make the difficult decision of who to trust with telling about their sexuality. (Allen, 2011) Thus, they have the control needed within their lives that was needed in the past when being LGBTQ was not safe. However, this decision does not have the same control as a woman deciding to not have a child. So, through more LGBTQ friendly laws passing, this problem should disappear and make sexual orientation and reproductive rights …show more content…
With Brenda Allen’s “Sexuality Matters,” breaking the notion that sexuality only refers to who one is sexually attracted to limits all the understanding of how everything interrelates. Thus, Allen’s chapter pushed into the idea of connecting reproductive rights and sexual orientation under the single label sexuality. Furthermore, in Margaret Sanger’s “Birth Control – A Parent’s Problem or a Woman’s?” she brings reproductive rights full circle to feminism by stating that through women given more freedom through decisions and choice. These newly acquired decisions and choices help to empower a woman, which is part of feminism. Without this reading, the true notion of feminism would be difficult to understand and support. So, these readings offered the theoretical and practical reasons for feminism, while also coming full circle to connect everything at the
Specifically, with reproductive rights, Sanger (1920) argues that a woman is the only person who decides if a couple were to have a child. Her reasoning stems from the fact that since we do not live within an “ideal society.” If we did live an ideal society, both parents would make the decision together, however, since we do not, the decision falls in the hands of women (Sanger 1920). Similarly, with sexuality, LGBTQ individuals many times have to make the difficult decision of who to trust with telling about their sexuality. (Allen, 2011) Thus, they have the control needed within their lives that was needed in the past when being LGBTQ was not safe. However, this decision does not have the same control as a woman deciding to not have a child. So, through more LGBTQ friendly laws passing, this problem should disappear and make sexual orientation and reproductive rights …show more content…
With Brenda Allen’s “Sexuality Matters,” breaking the notion that sexuality only refers to who one is sexually attracted to limits all the understanding of how everything interrelates. Thus, Allen’s chapter pushed into the idea of connecting reproductive rights and sexual orientation under the single label sexuality. Furthermore, in Margaret Sanger’s “Birth Control – A Parent’s Problem or a Woman’s?” she brings reproductive rights full circle to feminism by stating that through women given more freedom through decisions and choice. These newly acquired decisions and choices help to empower a woman, which is part of feminism. Without this reading, the true notion of feminism would be difficult to understand and support. So, these readings offered the theoretical and practical reasons for feminism, while also coming full circle to connect everything at the