Semple 1

Anna Semple

Mrs. Dubay

E121 Per.7B​

Research Paper

28 February 2025

Strive for Women’s Rights

Many women risk their lives and careers to go against the laws that society has against

them, and to be able to have control of their own decisions. One specific issue that has been

affecting women for centuries is reproductive rights. Margaret Sanger worked as a nurse

practicing obstetrical care where she witnessed uncontrolled fertility and deaths from illegal

abortions. She knew she had to make a change and work for women's rights to avoid unwanted

pregnancies. Sanger, the creator behind birth control, left a lasting legacy to many women who

are now able to be more in control of their own bodies, and to prevent illegal abortions and

unwanted pregnancies. The American Dream is the idea that anyone can succeed through hard

work and experience the opportunities they want. Margaret Sanger can be considered a hero and

had a positive impact on the American Dream because she has contributed to helping young

women achieve their dreams of having as many kids as they want and when they wanted to have

them.

After years working as a nurse and seeing women struggle with unwanted pregnancies,

Margaret Sanger, with the help of researchers and investors, developed birth control. According

to Britannica School, a peer-reviewed research database, during her time as an obstetrical nurse

“she witnessed the relationships between poverty, uncontrolled fertility, high rates of infant and

maternal mortality, and deaths from botched illegal abortions” (“Margaret Sanger”). Because of
 Semple 2

these observations, Sanger devoted herself to the cause of birth control. She was motivated to

make a change for women who felt as though they did not have an option when it came to having

children. Women are now able to live out the American Dream by being able to decide if they

want to have children or not or even how many children they want to have. As mentioned by

Britannica School, a peer-reviewed research database, later in 1912, “Sanger gave up nursing to

devote herself to the cause of birth control and sex education, publishing a series of articles on

the topics, including “What Every Girl Should Know” for the New York Call” (“Margaret

Sanger”). Sanger wrote articles to spread awareness on reproductive rights. In her obstetrical

nursing, she saw women suffering from a lack of reproductive options. She wanted to make a

change and allowing women to have control of their own bodies would help them succeed in life.

In the 1950’s Margaret Sanger worked with the American Philanthropist Katharine

McCormick, as well as Gregory Pincus and John Rock to create birth control for women to avoid

undesirable pregnancies. According to ABC-CLIO, a peer-reviewed research database, during

the this time period of women suffrage “the turning point in her life came when one of her

patients, who had been refused contraceptive information by her doctor, died as a result of the

birth of her fifth child”(“Margaret Sanger”). After Sanger witnessed the death of this patient, she

began to connect with philanthropists and other endocrinologists to finally create birth control.

Sanger saw uncontrollable fertility as a worldwide problem for all women. Sanger knew she

needed to make a change and create birth control. As claimed by ABC-CLIO, a peer-reviewed

research database, the research and development with investors “led to a birth control pill that

came on the market in 1960”(“Margaret Sanger”). Because of the birth control pill, Sanger

changed history for the better. She made it possible for women to have almost full control over

their own bodies. This new power meant they could live out the American Dream.
 Semple 3

Margaret Sanger left a strong influence on women’s rights and is a hero to many young

women now and during her time. According to Gale Ebooks, a peer-reviewed research database,

during her life and trying to make birth control legal,“She argued that a woman’s right to control

her own body was the foundation of her human rights”(“Sanger, Margaret”). Sanger knew

women should be able to choose their own paths. Sanger went through many struggles and even

was arrested for sticking up for women because she knew they should have their own

reproductive rights and responsibilities. Being able to have control of your own body is a big part

of the American Dream. In addition, she also believed “[…] that limiting family size would

liberate working class women from the economic burdens associated with unwanted pregnancies,

and that women are as much entitled to sexual pleasure and fulfillment as men”(“Sanger,

Margaret”). Working class women are now able to live a better life by being able to control how

many kids they need to care for. Sanger’s view points and ideas about women’s rights and

freedom surrounding their sexuality were eye opening for the time. Because of Sanger, women

are able to have more control of their own bodies and live out the American Dream.

By creating birth control and allowing for women to have a choice about the way they

wanted to live their lives, Margaret Sanger positively contributed to the American Dream. After

studying nursing and discovering the struggle women had with uncontrolled fertility, Sanger

quickly made a change by developing the concept of birth control which was revolutionary for

women. Sanger risked her life doing this, and even was thrown into jail for going against the law.

That didn’t stop her from making a change in women’s rights. Sanger ultimately was a hero for

women all over, even to this day. People might not know of her now, but many women are

thankful for birth control.Without Margaret Sanger, the American Dream would not have been

possible for women to live out.