Pre-Radio Media: The Woman Rebel

    Women's Reproductive Rights and The Woman Rebel in pre-radio United States

By: Shannon T

Throughout the course of history, a woman’s role in society has perpetuated patriarchal narratives and fallen into a submissive role of motherhood. This will be discussed through the exploration and examination of The Woman Rebel, a pro-contraceptive self published newspaper, through cultural analysis, and will provide tangible evidence of an early development towards a counter hegemonic dialogue that would pave the way for a revolution of independent female thinkers. Despite living in a male dominated world, women would begin to use inventions like the printing press to create and promote a new narrative that would challenge the dominant patriarchy. With the invention of the printing press, and a woman who was willing to ask important questions, women were able to scrutinize the patriarchy and question their roles in a larger forum than ever before. The Woman Rebel was one of the first attempts using the printing press to communicate new thoughts to women everywhere using the only technology available for mass communication until the invention of the radio. Even now the Woman Rebel, though written in 1914, still resonates with the cause and continues to backbone the fight for Women’s reproductive rights and create a space for voluntary motherhood.

The struggle for women's rights stems as far back as history is recorded, in ancient Greek culture where women were considered property, bought and sold. Much like slavery, women were not citizens, could not own land or vote, but were an extension of their male counterpart. Best described in the words of Andrew Cayton in the “rights of women” and the problem of power, “In this patriarchal world, Women exercised influence but they rarely exercise power. Women mattered to the extent of their attachment to powerful men; young women mattered even more because of their bodies, in particular their wombs, mattered.” (Cayton) Though there are times throughout history where some societies were a matriarchal system, such as Cleopatra in ancient Egypt, most of history is represented in patriarchal systems. Even Cleopatra was a ruler despite her gender, coming into power as a regent because her younger brothers were too young to rule, was forced out of Egypt when her brother came of age, and was only able to return to her throne by gaining the help of Julius Caesar, and marrying her brother. “Caesar and Cleopatra became lovers and spent the winter besieged in Alexandria. Roman reinforcements arrived the following spring, and Ptolemy XIII fled and drowned in the Nile. Cleopatra, now married to her brother Ptolemy XIV, was restored to her throne.”(Tyldesley)

In a male dominated world, women are portrayed as the submissive gender, demure and weak in comparison to their male counterparts. This structure was perceived as normal, their place in history began to shape in the background. Women's role in history was traditionally shaped by men, “Gossip about women’s virginity, fertility, and sexuality facilitated and destroyed dynastic dreams. Fathers, uncles, and brothers chose suitors, negotiated the exchange of property, and dispensed patronage; mothers and other post-menopausal women supervised the transformation of daughters into wives (or mistresses) and eventually mothers.” (Cayton) A woman’s primary role was to be a mother, focused on raising children and supporting her family at home. Her prime directive was to create strong men and well behaved child bearing girls. All of this conspired to keep women in their patriarchal determined role until inventions like the printing press and radio allowed women to hear about and consider a larger role aside from childbearing in society.
It was not until the early 20th century, and the introduction of the printing press, that women began to articulate a feminist-esque agenda. Publications like The Woman Rebel by Margaret Sanger, began making their way into society. Women began to examine the hegemonic narrative and argue against the cultural norm they had known to that day. Caytons theory was, “ the expansion of literacy and print had long since prompted a redefinition of influence as public persuasion rather than private whispers.” (Cayton) It was in this climate that Margaret Sanger began constructing the eight page monthly newsletter called “The Woman Rebel”, where she collected writings from women who wanted their opinions heard; she printed and distributed it all by hand. Subverting the patriarchal narrative that women must follow a set trajectory dictated by male relatives and partners, Sanger took it upon herself to inform women that they were, in fact, empowered and could take charge of their own bodies and futures. In particular, Sanger concentrated on the importance of a woman’s sovereignty over her own body, especially with regard to reproduction. Sanger said, “If a woman can control her fertility, then she cannot be controlled by man.” (The Selected Papers of Margaret Sanger: V.1: The Woman Rebel, 1900-1928)

Sanger’s revolutionary counter-narrative was not met without opposition. At this time there was the Comstock Act, which meant you could not distribute “lewd” content through the post. The classification of reproductive health information under the umbrella of obscenity is yet another example of a patriarchal, establishment attempt to control the narrative of women’s bodies-- Sanger’s paper and the opinions of the female authors therein didn’t just represent an alternate opinion on women’s rights over their bodies, the paper was “obscene”, wholly without merit, and the patriarchal hegemony needed to legislate against it in order to protect the oppressive dominant narrative. The Comstock Act hindered disbursement of her message, but it most definitely did not stop her. The first words of the page sparked a revolution, “This paper will not be the champion of any “ism.” All rebel women are invited to contribute to its columns. The majority of papers usually adjust themselves to the ideas of their readers but the REBEL WOMAN will obstinately refuse to be adjusted.” (Sanger) Margaret created a forum for the female voice with the aid of new printing technologies and broke the silence of the oppressive patterns women had known for so long. She said, “The aim of this paper will be to stimulate working women to think for themselves and to build up a conscious fighting character.” (Sanger) Her push for women’s fertility rights began to bring the subject into view at a national level.

In 1916, partly due to the Woman Rebel, we began to see a ripple effect on the subject of women’s fertility rights, some medical professionals had begun advocating for birth control. Despite growing conversation on the subject most of the medical field was still very much against the use and distribution of contraceptives. Robert Latou Dickinson, one of the most respected gynecologists in the country at the time was in favor of medical professionals dispensing contraceptives. He said, “that we as professionals should take hold of this matter [of contraceptives] and not let it go to the radicals, and not let it receive harm by being pushed in any undignified or improper manner.” (Kennedy 174) He had, at the time, a rare opinion that was similar to the woman rebel.

In an attempt to perpetuate the hegemonic narrative and regain control over women, Sanger’s opponents attempted to de-legitimize and discredit the publications through public, personal attacks against Sanger’s character, and perpetuating the motives of the patriarchy. The tactics included repeated attempts to distort the motivations of the publication Woman Rebel by making it appear Sanger was in favor of racial sterilization, and that she was an advocate for abortion. For example, attempts have been made to characterize Sanger as a racist eugenicist, as in this quote attributed to Sanger: “The mass of ignorant Negroes still breed carelessly and disastrously, so that the increase among Negroes, even more than the increase among whites, is from that portion of the population least intelligent and fit, and least able to rear their children properly.” (Dubois) This quote was falsely attributed to Sanger in anti-family planning literature, when in fact was a quote taken from W.E.B. Dubois, the founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in context was associated with the concern for balance between quality of life for African Americans. This quote was associated with Sanger until the mid 1930’s, and perpetuated the attempt to denounce her cause.  Another quote that was fabricated by anti-family planning activists for a flyer to strengthen the opposition was, “As early as 1914 Margaret Sanger was promoting abortion, not for white middle-class women, but against ‘inferior races’ - black people, poor people, Slavs, Latins, and Hebrews were ‘Human Weeds’.” (McCormick) Though it is well known she was not an advocate of abortion due to the risks involved, this pamphlet was widely distributed and viewed as fact, when in reality the information was again fabricated to fit the needs of the dominant ideologies and religious agenda. This illustrates the consistent pattern of hegemonic systems attacking opposing views to discredit their words and continue to keep the male dominated structures of power in place.

So we can see that there has been systemic oppression of women’s fertility rights by the patriarchal ideologies, often by attacking the character and message of the movement. The invention of the printing press allowed radicals like Sanger to get their message spread and further the cause of women’s rights. Margaret was a trailblazer who helped women find the space to govern their own bodies and in 1916 opened a clinic, Planned Parenthood, that provides contraceptives for women at a national level. (McCormick) So much progress has been made since her time but not nearly enough. The Woman Rebel was a publication that would change the conversation about women and the rights that we are still fighting for. Best said by NARAL, “Working together, we push our friends to be bolder, lift up the champions fighting for true reproductive freedom, and shine a spotlight of accountability on the bad actors trying to impose their out-of-touch agenda on us all.” (NARAL) We can continue the mission of the Rebel Woman by questioning the narratives and the people in power who fight to uphold them. We must continue to break free from the structures put in place to keep women in their place and build a better world for those who come after us, as she did. In order to further the progress of rights for Women, or anyone oppressed we have to continue to educate people and support organizations like NARAL and Planned Parenthood, that focus on the rights that people deserve about the struggles that women have faced before and attempt to make progress for the future.