1. DO NOW
Did the data we looked at yesterday affect your choice of future profession or study? Why or why not? Explain your response.

2. Reproductive Rights
Roots of the Issue

3. What are reproductive rights?
Rights of individuals (usually women) to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health
Individual's right to plan a family
Terminate a pregnancy
Use contraceptives
Learn about sex education in public schools
Gain access to reproductive health services

4. Early roots of issue
Until 1880s abortion was technically legal in the US
But very risky
State by state – most states practiced English Common Law which made it illegal
Few options for contraception
Early feminists were opposed to abortion
Why do you think they would have been against this? (Think about the tactics activity we did)

5. Early Pioneers Margaret Sanger Emma Goldman
Advocated for education on family planning and access to contraception
Founder of Planned Parenthood and American Birth Control League
Believed women should be allowed to make their own choice
Emma Goldman
Advocated for:
education on family planning
access to contraception
Abortion legalization
The idea that women should take pleasure in sex
Tactics: civil disobedience
Handed out educational pamphlets and condoms – illegal at that time

6. Early Hurdles Comstock Laws, 1873
Act of the Suppression of Trade in, and Circulation of, Obscene Literature and Articles of Immoral Use
1900, Abortion a felony in every state
Limited circumstances, generally to protect the woman's life or to terminate pregnancies arising from rape or incest
Strict early 20th century morality
Religion
The patriarchy
Science and medicine was lagging