Margaret Sanger's The Morality Of Birth Control

The Roaring Twenties were known as a time of economic boom, pop culture and social developments. This was a time when women began to break norms, they acted rebelliously such as wearing releveling clothing, smoking, and drinking. These women were known as “flappers” who wanted to change their roles in the 1920’s. Birth control activist, Margaret Sanger sought to change the world where women had access to a low cost, effective contraception pill. In “The Morality of Birth Control” Sanger battled opponents who claimed that contraception would cause women to become immoral. The author uses rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and fallacies to back up her claim while touching on issues in the church, advancements of women, and the source of disease in the world.

Sanger’s speech was written in first person which helps the audience see her perspective more easily. The speaker also uses the word “we” when discussing what is desired for women. This word choice creates a stronger connection between Sanger and all women. It persuades the audience to support Sanger because she is on the side of the women. The intended audience is to both men and women. For example, when Sanger states that the “principle that Birth Control should be available to every adult man and woman.” (2). She is speaking to both genders although,

Sanger explains that people who aren’t fit to care for a child shouldn’t bare children. She goes on to explain that the less irresponsible and reckless people there are “the less immortality shall exist”. Sanger wants to stop the disease known as over population at the source which is in the hands of women controlling the number of offspring they bring into the world. The argument in the speech is that using contraception doesn’t lower morals, when actually not using contraception is immoral because irresponsible people are “filling the earth with misery, poverty, and disease” (Sanger