The Pivot of Civilization

Margaret Sanger's 1922 book, "The Birth Control Review," attempted to broaden the idea of birth control beyond its socialist and feminist roots to address the threat of overpopulation and its consequences in poverty and disease. She argued for the medical establishment to assume control over contraceptive distribution and advocated for birth control as a means of limiting the breeding of defectives, delinquents, and dependents. Sanger's writings on eugenics have become fodder for her critics, but her feminist message remains powerful.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Arguably her most important and influential book, this controversial work, first published in 1922 by pioneering birth-control advocate Margaret Sanger, attempted to broaden the still-radical idea of birth control beyond its socialist and feminist roots. Moving away from a single-minded focus on women's reproductive rights to the larger issue of the general health and economic prosperity of the whole human race, Sanger argued that birth control was pivotal to a rational approach toward dealing with the threat of overpopulation and its ruinous consequences in poverty and disease. Through this book, Sanger hoped to persuade the medical establishment to assume control over contraceptive distribution, and thereby to lessen the religious, legal, and moral opposition that continued to restrict access to contraceptive information.

However important this book is to the history of women's rights, it remains a very problematic work from our more scientifically informed perspective today. In arguing for population control, Sanger made frequent reference to the then fashionable science of eugenics. She also adopted its rhetoric, using such callous phrases as the feeble-minded and the unfit and advocating birth control as a means of limiting the breeding of defectives, delinquents, and dependents. Although she incorporated views and terminology commonly held in respectable medical and scientific circles of the day, Sanger's writings on eugenics, and this book in particular, have become fodder for her critics, both on the left and the right, who seek to diminish her achievements and obscure what is ultimately a powerful feminist message: when women gain greater control over their fertility, they will improve the human race.

This unusual and historically significant book is complemented by a wealth of primary sources, including letters, speeches, and articles written by Sanger and her colleagues, which provide a deeper understanding of the social and political context in which the birth control movement emerged. These materials also highlight the challenges and controversies that Sanger faced throughout her career, from legal battles to public criticism, and demonstrate her unwavering commitment to promoting women's health and reproductive rights.

In conclusion, Margaret Sanger's The Story of Birth Control is a seminal work that played a crucial role in shaping the modern feminist movement and the broader social and political landscape of the 20th century. Despite its problematic aspects, Sanger's advocacy for birth control and her commitment to women's health and reproductive rights continue to inspire and influence activists and policymakers around the world. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the history and significance of the birth control movement.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 208 x 142 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538150368