During the time of women’s suffrage, a new idea came about that fought against the Comstock Act which criminalized the use of contraceptives. At a time when women were starting to work for wages and gain more rights, there was a stronger push for the need to control the size of a family. They were denied access to these types of medications. It was an important cause at the time and it is still very prevalent in our lives today as women fight for the rights to make decisions about their bodies.
Margaret Sanger began to actively protest the existing laws which banned the use of contraceptives and was arrested many times. Having dealt with personal tragedy in the past, Margaret founded the American Birth Control League in 1921 which was the precursor to Planned Parenthood. She also started the Birth Control Review, a publication “dedicated to the principle of intelligent and voluntary motherhood”. This series of newspapers, published from 1917-1940 impacted the fight for the legalization of contraceptives, as it informed people throughout the United States about the benefits. In 1938, a case ended the federal ban on contraceptives and the Diaphragms became a popular method of birth control.
This specific newspaper itself features a sketched drawing of a nurse and a women patient. The bold font used for the title immediately catches the viewer's eye to draw them in and the quotes used beckon the viewer to question his or her own beliefs. The use of only black and white is indicative of the time period that this newspaper was put into production. The simple design of the newspapers had a huge impact on the fight for this right as it informed and persuaded people to support Margaret Sanger and the ACBL.
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