Quick Facts
Also Known As: Margaret Higgins Sanger, Margaret Sanger Slee, Margaret Louise Higgins
Died At Age: 86
Family:Spouse/Ex-: James Noah H. Slee (m.1922–1943), William Sanger (m.1902–1921)
father: Michael Hennessy Higgins
mother: Anne Purcell Higgins
siblings: Bob Higgins, Ethel Byrne, Olive Byrne
children: Grant Sanger, Peggy Sanger, Stuart Sanger
Born Country: United States
American Women
Women Activists
Died on: September 6, 1966
place of death: Tucson, Arizona, United States
Cause of Death: Congestive Heart Failure
Ancestry: Irish American
Notable Alumni: Claverack College
U.S. State: New Yorkers
More Facts
education: Claverack College
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1
What is Margaret Sanger known for?
Margaret Sanger is known for her pioneering work in the birth control movement and advocacy for women's reproductive rights.
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2
What is the significance of Margaret Sanger's contributions to women's health?
Margaret Sanger's contributions to women's health include her efforts to promote access to contraception, educate women about reproductive health, and fight for women's right to control their own bodies.
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3
How did Margaret Sanger impact the feminist movement?
Margaret Sanger's advocacy for birth control and women's reproductive rights played a significant role in advancing the feminist movement by empowering women to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive choices.
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4
What were some of the challenges Margaret Sanger faced in her work?
Margaret Sanger faced challenges such as legal battles against the distribution of birth control information, societal stigma surrounding discussions of contraception, and opposition from religious and conservative groups.
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5
How did Margaret Sanger's work influence modern reproductive health policies?
Margaret Sanger's work laid the foundation for modern reproductive health policies by promoting access to contraception, advocating for comprehensive sex education, and advancing women's rights to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
Childhood & Early Life
Margaret was born Margaret Louise Higgins on 14 September 1879, in Corning, New York, USA, to Michael Higgins, an Irish stonemason, and Anne Higgins.
The sixth-born child among 11 children, Margaret did not have a prosperous childhood. She spent most of her time doing household chores and looking after her younger siblings.
In 1896, she went to ‘Claverack College’ and ‘Hudson River Institute’ as she was inclined towards academics and wanted a better life.
When she turned 21 in 1900, she chose to take up nursing as her subject of specialization and joined the ‘White Plains Hospital’ to help thousands of people suffering from ailments.
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Career
In 1910, Sanger went to Greenwich Village in New York City and settled in a bohemian enclave. She then joined the ‘Women’s Committee of the New York Socialist’ party.
In 1912, while working as a nurse in Lower East side, she started writing educational columns for women. Her works, such as ‘What Every Mother Should Know’ helped many women terminate their pregnancies or undergo back alley abortions.
In 1914, she published a monthly magazine titled ‘The Woman Rebel’ which encouraged women to opt for birth control. The magazine caused legal troubles, thanks to the ‘Comstock Act of 1873.’
In 1916, she managed to set up her first clinic for birth control in the USA. However, the clinic caused sheer unrest in the society. Many raised their voices against her, which eventually led to her arrest and prosecution.
She remained undeterred and went on to establish ‘American Birth Control League’ in 1921, which was later renamed as ‘The Planned Parenthood Federation of America.’ She served as the president of the organization for the next seven years.
In 1923, she established her first legal clinic in the USA. Called as the ‘Clinical Research Bureau’ and later renamed as ‘Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau,’ the clinic helped many women realize their self-worth.
Her dream of legalizing contraception in the country led to the founding of ‘National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control’ in 1929.
In 1936, she ordered a diaphragm from Japan to provoke a decisive battle in the courts of the US. She won the legal battle which eventually helped her gain support for the legalization of contraception in the country.
She became the chairperson of the newly formed ‘Birth Control Council of America’ in 1937. Two years later, she managed to create the ‘Birth Control Federation of America’ by merging ‘ABCL’ and ‘BCCRB.’
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Although she was still the president of the organization, she no longer had the same influence that she did in her earlier years. In 1942, she changed the name of the organization to ‘Planned Parenthood Federation of America.’
In 1948, she helped found the ‘International Committee on Planned Parenthood,’ which became the ‘International Planned Parenthood Federation’ in 1952. She was the president of the organization since its inception and remained in that position till the age of 80.
Major Works
Sanger started hogging the limelight in 1914 when she came up with ‘The Woman Rebel,’ a monthly magazine on birth control. Through the magazine she imparted relevant information related to birth control to her clients. At the time of its publication, the content of the magazine was either considered to be illegal, immoral, or obscene. However, Sanger braved all odds and went on to educate a horde of women about the importance of birth control and self-respect.
Awards & Achievements
In 1957, she was presented with the prestigious ‘Humanist of the Year’ award by the ‘American Humanist Association.’
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1902, at the age of 23, Margaret married an architect named William Sanger. She had three children with him. The marriage lasted a little less than two decades.
She had brief affairs with psychologist Havelock Ellis and writer H.G. Wells during her stay in England in 1914 and 1920 respectively.
In 1922, she married J. Noah H. Slee, a businessman who used to provide most of the financial help that she needed for her social reform projects.
She passed away due to congestive heart failure in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 86. Her mortal remains were interred in Fishkill, New York.
Many years after her death, she was recognized with many important honors. There are a number of institutions and landmarks that are named after her. Some of them include ‘Margaret Sanger Square’ in Greenwich Village, ‘Margaret Sanger Clinic,’ and a residential building in ‘Stony Brook Campus.’
In 1966, the ‘Planned Parenthood Federation’ began issuing awards in her name to individuals who achieve high recognition or excellence in the fields of reproductive health or reproductive rights.
Facts About Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger was a pioneering advocate for women's reproductive rights and access to birth control, founding the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood.
Sanger was a skilled nurse and educator, working to improve maternal and infant health in marginalized communities.
She was a prolific writer and speaker, using her platform to challenge societal norms and promote sexual education and women's autonomy.
Sanger believed in the power of education and empowerment to improve women's lives, advocating for family planning as a means of social and economic progress.
Despite facing criticism and legal challenges, Sanger remained committed to her advocacy work and left a lasting impact on the reproductive rights movement.
