Margaret Sanger Analysis

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There becomes a time when one has to stand up for what they believe. Making their voices heard by many, hoping that the message is received in a positive light. Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) was a nurse, educator and a crusader for female reproductive rights. She attended White Plains Hospital as a nurse probationer. Working as a practical nurse in the woman’s ward, while working towards her registered nursing degree (Katz, n.d.). Margaret worked as a visiting nurse in the impoverished neighborhoods of New York City’s Lower East Side. After working with numerous patients that were poor, immigrant women suffering the health consequences of botched abortions and repeated pregnancies (“Margaret Sanger,” n.d.). Seeing women suffer was the catalyst which brought about her belief that the ability to limit family size was an essential component to maintaining women’s health and breaking the cycle of poverty. Therefore, Margaret redirected her attention from nursing to advocating for the use and legalization of birth control and contraceptives (Margaret Sanger,” n.d.). During this time, it was illegal to provide contraceptives information due to the Comstock Act passed by Congress in 1873. Left Margaret powerless and …show more content…

The impoverished were not privy to this information and could not afford it (Katzive, 2015). To create an equal playing field regarding family planning, in 1921 Margaret founded the American Birth Control League. As part of an education and publicity campaign to gain support for birth control. Which was the precursor to the Planned Parenthood Federation (PBS Online, 2001). Furthermore, Margaret’s continued fight for family planning, she wanted to create a pill that would provide women with cheap, safe, effective family contraception. In 1960, FDA approved Enovid; the first oral contraceptive was born (PBS Online,