I found especially in England and Scotland.  In speaking to groups of dockworkers on strike in Glasgow, and before the communist and co-operative guilds throughout England, I discovered a prevailing opposition to the recognition of sex as a factor in the perpetuation of poverty.  The leaders and theorists were immovable in their opposition.  But when once I succeeded in breaking through the surface opposition of the rank and file of the workers, I found that they were willing to recognize the power of this neglected factor in their lives.

So central, so fundamental in the life of every man and woman is this problem that they need be taught no elaborate or imposing theory to explain their troubles.  To approach their problems by the avenue of sex and reproduction is to reveal at once their fundamental relations to the whole economic and biological structure of society.  Their interest is immediately and completely awakened.  But always, as I soon discovered, the ideas and habits of thought of these submerged masses have been formed through the Press, the Church, through political institutions, all of which had built up a conspiracy of silence around a subject that is of no less vital importance than that of Hunger.  A great wall separates the masses from those imperative truths that must be known and flung wide if civilization is to be saved.  As currently constituted, Church, Press, Education seem to-day organized to exploit the ignorance and the prejudices of the masses, rather than to light their way to self-salvation.

Such was the situation in 1914, when I returned to America, determined, since the exclusively masculine point of view had dominated too long, that the other half of the truth should be made known.  The Birth Control movement was launched because it was in this form that the whole relation of woman and child—­eternal emblem of the future of society—­could be more effectively dramatized.  The amazing growth of this movement dates from the moment when in my home a small group organized the first Birth Control League.  Since then we have been criticized for our choice of the term “Birth Control” to express the idea of modern scientific contraception.  I have yet to hear any criticism of this term that is not based upon some false and hypocritical sense of modesty, or that does not arise out of a semi-prurient misunderstanding of its aim.  On the other hand:  nothing better expresses the idea of purposive, responsible, and self-directed guidance of the reproductive powers.

Those critics who condemn Birth Control as a negative, destructive idea, concerned only with self-gratification, might profitably open the nearest dictionary for a definition of “control.”  There they would discover that the verb “control” means to exercise a directing, guiding, or restraining influence;—­to direct, to regulate, to counteract.  Control is guidance, direction, foresight.  It implies intelligence, forethought and responsibility.