South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-13
ENGLISH WOMAN IS
FAR BEHIND j. S.
SEX. MRS. SANGER
American Woman Leads IN
Scientific and Human Atti-
tude on Sex Questions.
BY CLARA VOID.
II. y. :. stan Correspondent

scientific attitude towards sex" de-
cIared Mrs Margaret Sanger leader
Of the American Birth Control
league. today We had been listen
ing % vigorous statements made by
II O. Wells concerning the liberty
with which birth control is regarded
and discussed in Eugland and the
narrowness Of America IN her atti
tude 20 the entire question.
1T Is true" said Mrs. Sanger.
that In America We still have laws
that forbid educational propaga nds
concerning birth control, but Amer
team women have broken absolutely
from the antiquated domination OF
the man over woman and are able
20 regard and discuss sex scientific
ally.
English women are so prudish in
the free expression of opinion on sex
subjects that % will take at least 100
years for them 10 get out from under
the influence Of unclean and unscien-
tific education"
1 asked her II this educa ton came
from the individual men Of English
homes
AAAAENN nr'ANAANs
Il should say that II comes from
the teaching in the church OF 6uti-
fui psssivity on the part Of women,
and also from the traditional belief
that woman Is the accessory OF man.
American women will not accept
such an idea. Not even the Ameri-
can man will stand for such an at
titude Of mind. And this is true no
less Of the working class man than
OF the inteuectuals The younger
Americans have never even cOnsid-
cred such an idea as the subOrdina-
ton Of woman 10 man and even the
foreigners who come TO America
quickly imbibs the American fem
mist attitude
The strange thing about this at
titude is that Il does not permit free
public discussion Of the sex question.
England already permits before any
mixde audience freer discussion by
specialists than we can ever hope
for This Is probably because the
laws Of England do not forbid such
discus sion. Anyway il is notable
that even the women who take part
en- an English discussion are funda-
mentally puritanical in their express
sion"
And what about the attitude OF
the English men towards the free
discussion OF sex questionS?"
EngIis.s Men Ahead.
We'll. one might say that the men
Of England are just as far ahead OF
the American men as the women are
behind Il is true that the English
birth control movement. like every
other movement and every part Of
English life. is dominated by men.
whereas in America the birth control
movement has always been led by
women and IL has been most diffi-
cult TO get men % take any part
in IL.
In the Orient, too, il is the men
who viii lead the movement. Our
meetings in Japan and China. where
I spent three months. were attended
by thousands Of men-scientists,
psychologists. medical men, students,
intellectuals. riCkshaw men. the COM
monest laborers-and only a hand
fu! Of women The attitude from
the first has been scientific and the
Oriental man is preparing 10 intro
duce the IDEAS OF birth control as
the most eXpedient solution OF their
present economic situation.
'In England the medical profess
sion has devoted much time 10 the
study and discussion of birth con
troll. Such men as Lord Dawson, |
one OF the most notable British
physicians, and Sir James Barr. |
citation, have come out frankly as
supporters or the birth control move I
ment in the face Of condemnation Of
the majority OF their profession.
American Men Sheep-Lil1e.
In America the men OF the med !
teal profession. Enthusiastically /
are more sheep-like They will fol-
low an idea. but they have not the
courage 10 be leaders against pop
ular opinion.
II have asked men Ike II. G.
Wells and Harold Cox and other
brilliant thinkers Of England why
their women are so puritanical-and
lat me say right here that 1 DO not
think Americans are veer half so
puritanical as the Englisn-and I
have always been told that the ex-
,ression OF the women on sex Ques-
lions is half hypocriticaL' The other
half IL. I suppose. traditional
And what VIII YOU do 10 change
the attitude OF The medical profess
sion in America 2' asked Mrs.
Sanger.
1T has been long struggle OF
our organization 20 set medical men
who believe In birth control 20 act
coura geousIy in dealing with the
question I'm 1915 / opened a clinic
IN New York for the spread Of in
formation on the question l was
arrested and the clinic was closed
on the ground OF violating the OBJ
scenity law. I'm 1918 the court de-
clared that Information could be
freely given 10y any one OF the medi- |
cal profession. Ever since then we
have waited for che medical men 20 |
open A clinic
She Awaits Action.
a wear ago 7 prom ised my board /
OF directors 20 wait another year for
some action from the medical men. |
That year is nearly over and IL moth |
.nR happens soon am sure the
women Of America VIII rise UP and |
begin new campaign for clinics.
America does not follow passive |
propaganda. We are an aggressive
people who like aggressive methods. |
most q all when they are directed |
against ourselves. And for that rea-
son I am sure that unless the medi- |
cal men take this matter up at once
the women Of America will open /
clinics. beginning in New York. The
hrst woman arrested viii be follow
- --..L.- .-a ntkar n n Il