Justice Stewart gave further encouragement to birth control advocates by making this observation: “That’s like telling a patient he has appendicitis and will die unless it is removed, but not allowing its removal.”
Author: David M. Dismore
David Dismore is the archivist for the Feminist Majority Foundation. His journey from would-be weather forecaster to full-time feminist began with the powerful impression made by a photo and a few paragraphs about the suffragists in his high school history textbook; years later, he had his first encounter with NOW—in which he carefully peeked in a window before opening the door to be sure men were allowed. He was eventually active in the ERA extension campaign of 1978, embarked on a cross-country bikeathon for it in 1982 and even worked for pioneers Toni Carabillo and Judith Meuli.
Today in Feminist History: Day Six of the Suffrage Hike (February 17, 1913)
The nine members of the suffragist Army of the Hudson continue on day six of their hike from Newark, New Jersey to Washington, D.C.
Today in Feminist History: The Progressive Woman Suffrage Union Opens Office in Manhattan (February 9, 1908)
Mrs. Boorum Wells, Executive Committee member, said: “But let not the public think too little of this movement because of its humble beginning. The beginning was made in England in even a smaller room than this. And now look at us over there! The parties are making advances to us to get our influence before they openly take up our cause. But we will make no alliances with political parties. Do men all join one party? They do not. They vote on different sides. So shall we. All we want is the right to vote. and we shall get it.”
Today in Feminist History: Ethel Byrne’s Force-feedings Continue (January 30, 1917)
Byrne has been in custody since January 22, after being convicted of violating Section 1142 of New York State’s Penal Code by furnishing information on birth control to patients at what was America’s first and only birth control clinic.
Today in Feminist History: Birth Control Advocate Ethel Byrne is Force-fed (January 27, 1917)
Byrne is currently serving a 30-day sentence for violating New York State law by distributing contraceptive information at what was America’s first—and so far only—birth control clinic, until it was raided and closed on October 26, 10 days after its opening.
Today in Feminist History: Congress, Contraception and the Comstock Act (January 18, 1934)
“Just because we favor birth control, it doesn’t follow that we are opposed to children. I dare say that, all in all, we have just as many children as our opponents.”
Today in Feminist History: General Rosalie Jones Leads “Suffrage Hike” (January 7, 1914)
Jones’ first—and totally unprecedented—”suffrage hike” left the Bronx on December 16, 1912, and arrived in Albany 12 days later. The purpose of the event was to deliver a message from prominent New York suffragists to Governor-elect William “Plain Bill” Sulzer, and then get him to formally support woman suffrage. They succeeded on both counts.
Today in Feminist History: A Chance for Women to Serve Their Country in Uniform (December 30, 1941)
Representative Edith Nourse Rogers, Republican of Massachusetts, today drafted new legislation that would give America’s women a chance to serve their country in uniform.
Today in Feminist History: Women Should Not Receive Taxation Without Representation (December 29, 1913)
Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, talked about the status of her personal tax revolt tonight, and gave out a copy of the letter she recently sent to suffrage advocates around the country asking them to join her in refusing “taxation without representation.”
Today in Feminist History: Women in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (December 28, 1942)
Thirteen women today went where none have gone before: The United States Coast Guard Academy. They are members of the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, nicknamed the “SPARS.”