Because I am a women who has had 3 children, I believe of all the readings thus far in Peiss, the documents on abortion and family planning in early nineteen century are the most disheartening to me. The document regarding the young Dakota Indians from 1888, who are counseled by their mothers about sex and marriage is particularly astonishing because their are married early before puberty! The mom's have to prep their daughters within the first 2 weeks of their marriage, mainly the painful consequences of sex, pregnancy and even possibly induced abortion. In all the readings about contraceptive it is incredible to know that the concept of what we call now "the rhythm method" was practiced long ago, although this method failed at times to prevent pregnancy, it is still used today to many who don't want to stay on birth control because of many side symptoms or long term affects which may be harmful to a women's health.
Another documents in this Chapter in Piess, such as, the Double Murder case of a 15 year old girl domestic worker was sexually abused by her employers' son was also alarming because it once again revealed how the impoverished working class young were exploited sexually by the hands of there rich and powerful. The young women became pregnant by a man of upper class and the events of how they tried to cover up and dispose of her and her unborn child by means of illegal abortion was just tragic.
I was especially enlightened by Margaret Sanger the Obstetrics and Gynecology nurse who was an advocate for many women in early nineteen century, because she was such a great force for all women of all classes. Women were so unjustly treated because they had no say about their reproduction rights, and birth control was illegal and not recommend to any women because they're role was to stay at home care for children (no matter how many she would have) . Doctors would not prescribe birth control and would advise young couples to start a family early, but for the poor that would be a devastating feat because they were left with no time to enjoy each other before children, but most demanding would be how they were going to support so many children that would be born to such conditions. The irony of the reproduction issue was that President T. Roosevelt would encourage young couples to limit their family size but not legalize birth control so that the population would be stabilized in poor families. Also, the toll that so many pregnancies on women during this time must have been devastating to their health! The account of the young women that Ms. Sanger was assisting in a stillbirth was most disheartening to me because the mother was relived and "Thanked God", for not letting the baby live such a life of poverty.
Dear Eva, One little thing: Pres Roosevelt wanted women, esp those of his own class, to have large families, not small families. He certainly did oppose birth control because, to him, it led to "race suicide." I rate your post 9/10. Prof Morgan
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