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It has taken a very long time to recognize the contributions American women have made to our history, society and laws.
One such woman is Mary Ware Dennett, suffragist and leader of the birth-control movement. In her advocacy, she presented a clear understanding of pregnancy and childbirth, bringing scientific fact to subjects long-shrouded in myth. Women were caught in a cycle of multiple births that sapped their energy and caused the families to stretch their already-meager wages to the breaking point.
The Icon & The Idealist, the recent book by Stephanie Gorton, highlights Mary Ware Dennett’s efforts in this field. Although not perfect in her efforts, the forces against her were powerful and manipulative, and she shone in areas that were desperately needed.
Fighting alongside Dennett was Margaret Sanger, a well-known leader who fought for similar freedoms for women. Gorton’s book illuminates the different approaches each woman took, and how they eventually became rivals. This fascinating time in American history is written by Gorton with authority and clarity, making The Icon & The Idealist a pleasure to read.
Stephanie Gorton will be coming to Rice Public Library, Kittery, Maine on May 7th at 6:00 p.m. to discuss her book. We are honored to have her visit our small town in Maine to discuss the ebbs and flows of our government and the long history of the struggle for women’s autonomy in the United States, fluctuating between the freedom to control our own bodies, and having those freedoms taken away.