Voluntary Parenthood League
Encyclopedia
The Voluntary Parenthood League (VPL) was an organization that advocated for contraception
during the birth control movement in the United States
. The VPL was founded in 1919 by Mary Dennett
. The VPL was a rival organization to Margaret Sanger
's National Birth Control League. The VPL lobbied to change anti-contraception laws. In 1925 the VPL merged with the American Birth Control League
.
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
during the birth control movement in the United States
Birth control movement in the United States
The birth control movement in the United States was a social reform campaign to make contraception legal in America. The movement began in 1914 when a group of radicals in New York City, led by Emma Goldman, Mary Dennett, and Margaret Sanger, became concerned about the plight of poor women, who...
. The VPL was founded in 1919 by Mary Dennett
Mary Dennett
Mary Coffin Ware Dennett was an American birth control activist and pacifist. She formed the Voluntary Parenthood League and the group lobbied until 1926 for a bill that would exempt birth control information and materials from federal censorship laws.In 1928 she was indicted under the Comstock...
. The VPL was a rival organization to Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger was an American sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist. Sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established Planned Parenthood...
's National Birth Control League. The VPL lobbied to change anti-contraception laws. In 1925 the VPL merged with the American Birth Control League
American Birth Control League
The American Birth Control League was founded by Margaret Sanger in 1921 at the First American Birth Control Conference in New York City. The League was incorporated under the laws of New York State on April 5, 1922. Its headquarters were located at 104 Fifth Avenue, New York City from 1921–30 and...
.