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'''Dorothea Palmer Ferguson''' (died 1992) was a Canadian who played a prominent role in the effort to legalize [[birth control]] in that country |
'''Dorothea Palmer (Ferguson)''' (died 1992) was a Canadian who played a prominent role in the effort to legalize [[birth control]] in that country. |
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In September 1936, when she was 28, she was arrested, under the obscenity section of the Criminal Code that made the selling or advertising of contraceptives illegal, while for promoting contraception to women in the poor [[Roman Catholic]] Ottawa community of [[Eastview, Ontario|Eastview]].<ref name = "elliot">{{cite web|last=Elliot|first=Wendy|title=Dorothea Parker: Brave Disseminator of Birth Control Information|work=Canadian History: Suite 101|accessdate=17 September 2011}}</ref> A nurse by training, she had been hired by the [[Parent's Information Bureau]], which was funded by A. R. Kaufman, the wealthy owner of the Kaufman Rubber Company in Kitchener, Ontario and prominent [[eugenics]] supporter.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Revie|first=Linda|title="More than just boots! The eugenic and commercial concerns behind A. R. Kaufman's birth controlling activities".|journal=Canadian bulletin of medical history|date=2006|volume=23|issue=1|pages=119-43}}</ref> Kaufman welcomed the chance to test Canada's laws in court, and spent the then considerable sum of $25,000 mounting a defence. |
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The trial attracted both Canada's most prominent advocates for birth control, and also representatives of the major churches and other birth control opponents. During the trial Palmer was the subject of attacks and abuse by those who opposed her. In one incident a man pulled her into an alley and attempted to rape her, telling her that he'd "show you what it's like without any birth control." Palmer managed to knee him in the groin and escape. |
The trial attracted both Canada's most prominent advocates for birth control, and also representatives of the major churches and other birth control opponents. During the trial Palmer was the subject of attacks and abuse by those who opposed her. In one incident a man pulled her into an alley and attempted to rape her, telling her that he'd "show you what it's like without any birth control." Palmer managed to knee him in the groin and escape. |
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On March 17, 1937, the court acquitted Palmer on the basis of the obscenity section's ''[[pro bono publico]]'' clause, i.e. that what she was doing was in the interest of the public good. It was a landmark trial, and while contraception was not fully legalized in Canada until 1969, no other person was ever prosecuted for distributing information about birth control in the country.<ref name = "elliot"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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*"History marks a page for Dorothea Palmer" Frank Jones. ''Toronto Star.'' Nov 12, 1992. pg. C.1 |
*"History marks a page for Dorothea Palmer" Frank Jones. ''Toronto Star.'' Nov 12, 1992. pg. C.1 |
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*"Did dirty work for men at trial, pioneer of birth control says" Joan Hollobon. ''The Globe and Mail.'' Nov 30, 1978. pg. T.3 |
*"Did dirty work for men at trial, pioneer of birth control says" Joan Hollobon. ''The Globe and Mail.'' Nov 30, 1978. pg. T.3 |
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Revision as of 20:48, 17 September 2011
Dorothea Palmer (Ferguson) (died 1992) was a Canadian who played a prominent role in the effort to legalize birth control in that country.
In September 1936, when she was 28, she was arrested, under the obscenity section of the Criminal Code that made the selling or advertising of contraceptives illegal, while for promoting contraception to women in the poor Roman Catholic Ottawa community of Eastview.[1] A nurse by training, she had been hired by the Parent's Information Bureau, which was funded by A. R. Kaufman, the wealthy owner of the Kaufman Rubber Company in Kitchener, Ontario and prominent eugenics supporter.[2] Kaufman welcomed the chance to test Canada's laws in court, and spent the then considerable sum of $25,000 mounting a defence.
The trial attracted both Canada's most prominent advocates for birth control, and also representatives of the major churches and other birth control opponents. During the trial Palmer was the subject of attacks and abuse by those who opposed her. In one incident a man pulled her into an alley and attempted to rape her, telling her that he'd "show you what it's like without any birth control." Palmer managed to knee him in the groin and escape.
On March 17, 1937, the court acquitted Palmer on the basis of the obscenity section's pro bono publico clause, i.e. that what she was doing was in the interest of the public good. It was a landmark trial, and while contraception was not fully legalized in Canada until 1969, no other person was ever prosecuted for distributing information about birth control in the country.[1]
See also
- Dionne quintuplets - 1934
- Great Stork Derby - 1926 - 1936
References
- ^ a b Elliot, Wendy. "Dorothea Parker: Brave Disseminator of Birth Control Information". Canadian History: Suite 101.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Revie, Linda (2006). ""More than just boots! The eugenic and commercial concerns behind A. R. Kaufman's birth controlling activities"". Canadian bulletin of medical history. 23 (1): 119–43.
- "History marks a page for Dorothea Palmer" Frank Jones. Toronto Star. Nov 12, 1992. pg. C.1
- "Did dirty work for men at trial, pioneer of birth control says" Joan Hollobon. The Globe and Mail. Nov 30, 1978. pg. T.3
- "A. R. Kaufman Industrialist was pioneer in fight to establish birth control clinics" The Globe and Mail. Feb 2, 1979. pg. P.40