Margaret Sanger in The 1920s
Margaret Sanger (1879–1966) was the nation's most important birth control advocate in the early-20th century. At a time when basic information about sex, sexuality, and even anatomy was often outlawed as obscene, Sanger worked to educate women about the reproductive process to allow them to choose when and whether to bear children.
She was convinced that society couldn't evolve unless people practiced family planning, especially among the poor.
In 1921, Sanger founded the American Birth Control League—now known as Planned Parenthood—to advocate for birth control rights. Though she faced much criticism for her work, Sanger also spurred young women all over the country to look beyond traditional social mores. Throughout the 1920s, Sanger answered millions of letters sent by women asking questions about birth control, and also lectured on the topic throughout the country.