It is Women's History Month and as a women founded, owned, operated brand in sexual health, it is our responsibility to shine a light on the trailblazers that have helped pave the way and push boundaries so that Personal Fav Co. can exist!
Margaret Sanger is one of the most influential figures in the history of reproductive rights and women’s health. As a nurse, activist, and founder of the birth control movement in the United States, her work transformed the conversation around family planning and women’s autonomy over their bodies.
Born in 1879 in Corning, New York, Margaret Sanger grew up in a large family, witnessing firsthand the struggles of her mother, who endured multiple pregnancies and suffered from poor health. This experience shaped Sanger’s passion for advocating for women’s reproductive choices. After training as a nurse, she worked with impoverished women in New York City, where she saw the devastating impact of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
At a time when discussing contraception was illegal under the Comstock Act, Sanger took a bold stand. In 1914, she founded The Woman Rebel, a newsletter promoting birth control, and soon after, she opened the first birth control clinic in the U.S. in Brooklyn in 1916. This led to her arrest, but it also sparked nationwide discussions on reproductive rights. Her legal battles ultimately helped challenge restrictive laws, paving the way for the widespread acceptance of contraceptives.
Sanger’s activism led to the founding of the organization that would later become Planned Parenthood in 1921. She worked tirelessly to promote scientific research on birth control and helped bring the first FDA-approved oral contraceptive pill to market in the 1960s.
While Sanger’s legacy is complex—her associations with eugenics have been widely debated—her contributions to women’s reproductive freedom remain significant. Her advocacy laid the groundwork for modern family planning, helping millions of women worldwide gain control over their reproductive health.
Margaret Sanger’s work ignited a movement that changed the course of history. Her relentless fight for birth control access empowered women, reshaped societal norms, and contributed to global health advancements. Though her legacy invites critical discussion, her impact on reproductive rights is undeniable. We at Personal Fav are forever grateful!