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Margaret Sanger Essay

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Margaret Sanger was an American birth control activist, sex educator, and nurse. She was born in 1879 in Corning, New York, and was one of 11 children. Sanger grew up in poverty, and her mother had 18 pregnancies, including 11 live births and seven miscarriages. Sanger's mother died of tuberculosis when Sanger was 19 years old. After training as a nurse, Sanger worked with women who had undergone botched abortions or who had given birth to too many children. She became an advocate for women's reproductive rights and birth control, which was illegal at the time. In 1916, Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the United States in Brooklyn, New York. The clinic was raided and Sanger was arrested, but the publicity from the raid helped …show more content…

The couple had three children together, but their marriage was strained. William was opposed to Margaret's work as an activist and frequently criticized her. The couple eventually separated, and Margaret moved to New York City with their children. In 1922, Margaret married James Noah H. Slee, an oil magnate who shared her interest in birth control. The couple moved to Tucson, Arizona, where they built a home and established a research institute. Slee died in 1943, and Sanger later married Noah Slee's nephew, J. Noah Slee Jr. Sanger's family life was often complicated by her work as an activist. Her advocacy for birth control and women's rights was controversial, and she faced frequent criticism and legal challenges. Despite these challenges, Sanger remained committed to her cause and continued to work for women's rights until her death in 1966. Sanger's legacy is controversial. Some people view her as a hero who fought for women's rights, while others view her as a eugenicist who promoted birth control as a means of controlling certain populations. Sanger did support eugenics early in her career, but later distanced herself from the movement. Sanger's work had a profound impact on women's reproductive rights in the United States. She popularized the term "birth control" and helped to make birth control legal and more accessible. Today, Planned Parenthood is one of the largest providers of reproductive health care in the United States. In conclusion, Margaret Sanger was a pioneering figure in the fight for women's reproductive rights. Her work helped to make birth control legal and more accessible, and her legacy continues to inspire activists

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