Margaret Sanger

Hero or killer?

from JoeUser Forums
So in my 20th Century American Lit class, we were all assigned a multi-genre project on some issue related to the 1920's and 30's. I'm taking a wide variety of notes, considering we will be required to write in all forms of literature. We are to write 6 pieces, ranging from different types of poetry, expository essays, short stories, and/or other forms of writing. There were many choices, such as prohibition, fashion, organized crime, jazz music, women's vote. I chose to write about the changing role of women in American society at that time, including the suffragists, feminists, flappers. all women. I was looking through book after book in the library, trying to find some type of information I could use for my project. Today I was skimming through a women's history book, and came across the name Margaret Sanger. AKA founder of planned parenthood.
She was an advocate for birth control, and devoted most of her life to raising awareness about it and trying to make women able to know more about their bodies, since physicians at that time were not allowed to give out any form of birth control or give women any education on sex. Sounds like a good cause, eh? Welllll.....
The organization now known as Planned Parenthood has a fairly respectable name. At least in my school. But why wouldn't the teens like it? During a lecture at Ramona High School in CA, a speaker told the kids, "At Planned Parenthood you can also get birth control without the consent or knowledge of your parents. So, if you are 14, 15 or 16 and you come to Planned Parenthood, we won't tell your parents you've been there. We swear we won't tell your parents." Nice morals. If teenage sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of, why are they hiding it from the parents?
Now I know not everyone has conservative values, or thinks that sex outside marriage is wrong. But birth control and abortion (two things that PP is in full support of) is simply murdering kids. Even their leading lady Margaret knew it herself.

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."
Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race
(Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)

On the PP website, it gives a tribute to Sanger, and even talks about her efforts to help the negro race. But it's interesting how her views were similar to Hitler's.

"The campaign for birth control is not merely of eugenic value, but is practically identical with the final aims of eugenics."
Margaret Sanger. "The Eugenic Value of Birth Control Propaganda." Birth Control Review, October 1921, page 5.

PP supporters have denied all accusations that Sanger was involved in eugenics. However there are many more sources that claim she was. The only site that denied it was the planned parenthood website itself, quoting what they said was a misquote of her. There are so many other things about her and the entire idealogy behind planned parenthood that isn't right. I probably won't ever be able to use any of this information about PP in my Lit class since it's not related to the 20's, but i got curious so i did a little research.

That's my rant for the night.
misc
7,608 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Gideon will like this one.

One thing I want to point out is your misconception that birth control is "simply murdering kids".

There are a myriad of forms of birth control ranging from condoms to IUDs to pills to patches to rings to sponges and on and on. Different forms of birth control affect the body in different ways.

Oral contraceptives stop the ovaries from releasing eggs. No ovulation, no pregnancy. This prevents pregnancy. It does not murder anything.

The mini pill thickens cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from reaching a released egg. It also prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. If you are very stringently pro-life, you might have a problem with this form of BC.

Of the various popular types of birth control, the following prevent pregnancy rather than creating a condition in the uterus where a fertilized egg could not implant*:

Oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progestin
Copper IUD
Condom
Female Condom
Diaphragm
Contraceptive Sponge

*Not necessarily a comprehensive list

A stringently pro-life woman can be confident using those forms of birth control that she is not causing her body to reject a fertilized egg.

Most other forms of birth control involve a combination of progestin and estrogen that prevent pregnancy as well as change the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting. I doubt many people feel that this constitutes "murder", but I can respect a woman who prefers not to go with any of those options.

The point I'm trying to make is this...birth control is a responsible option that prevents pregnancy, which in turns also prevents true abortions. To label birth control as "murder" is a giant leap, and one I hope you'll reconsider.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
PS - Your assignment sounds really fun.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
well Ruby, Bobby said that most if not all birth control has the potential to not only stop fertilization but also has the potential to cause abortions to happen after they do. It's something he learned in Molecular Cell Bio and genetics.

On the other hand I've known ladies to get pregnant while using some of these very contraceptives so you really have to do research and come to your own convictions and conclusions regarding this issue.

Good article. I got a lot of info on her a while back from our own Mr. M. He did a lot of research on her for his newspaper article. If you're interested maybe I can ask him to resend it.

Personally I think she was an evil person. But that's just my opinion. For some, she should be considered for Sainthood. Saint Sanger? Nope does nothing here.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
most if not all birth control has the potential to not only stop fertilization but also has the potential to cause abortions to happen after they do. It's something he learned in Molecular Cell Bio and genetics.


My post above includes some facts about the effects of common birth control methods. Info about the effects and content (where applicable) of the various birth control methods are readily available, and college level biology studies are not required to understand them (but for the record I have also studied biology at the university level).
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am impressed!  This is an excellent and well thought out article on the subject.  Tex is right, Gideon would love this one, and I do hope he sees it.  I would give you an A for your research and analysis.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Very good, jlaur. I am told repeatedly by pro-abortion advocates that we shouldn't base our opinion on Planned Parenthood on the ideology of Margaret Sanger, but I contend that as its founder she should be held fully accountable.

I agree with Tex that birth control is not the equivalent of murder, and actually am quite in favor of education on birth control and access to various non-medical methods of birth control without parental notification. As for "the pill" or "the patch" or other medical methods of birth control, I feel parental notification should be required. After all, as a parent, I am legally responsible for the health of my child. If she is taking medications, I need to know it, because then I will be aware of potential side effects. If she's having an abortion, I need to know it because I need to be aware of potential complications.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Most other forms of birth control involve a combination of progestin and estrogen that prevent pregnancy as well as change the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.


That should say "Most other forms of birth control have only the hormone progestin and prevent pregnancy as well as change the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting".

My apologies for the mistake.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
But birth control and abortion (two things that PP is in full support of) is simply murdering kids.


maybe i should have said that some forms of birth control and abortion.
i understand now that some are not like abortion.

it has been an interesting project. I'm going to research dear Sanger more, as well as her ties to Eugenics and hopefully come up with a presentable piece of writing.
thanks for the info.