21st Annual Student Research Conference
Margaret Sanger's Use of Eugenics and Birth Control
Emily J. Murdock
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
In the 1920s, eugenics was at its peak of popularity in America due to a huge immigration population and rampant poverty. Every eugenicist had a different opinion of how to employ a method of "social hygiene." However, there is one eugenicist that greatly stands out among the others, and that is Margaret Sanger. Sanger not only took part in the movements for eugenics, but she also pioneered the birth control campaign, both in America and abroad. Many people try to categorize her as either a eugenicist or a feminist with the belief that it is impossible to be both. However, Sanger’s work in eugenics depended upon birth control and vice versa; and although I personally do not agree with eugenics, I do believe it helped the public to accept birth control, which would not have survived as a movement unless it had eugenics on which to depend.
Keywords: Margaret Sanger, birth control, eugenics
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 33-1
Location: OP 2121
Time: 1:15