Marie Stopes

Description: (Paleobotanist & Women’s Rights Activists)

Marie Stopes was a British author and palaeobotanist who is known for her pioneering work in popularizing the importance of birth control and use of contraceptives in England. She was the foremost advocator of contraception and an influential leader of the early family planning movement. Stopes talked about romantic and sexual happiness in marriage, birth control and contraception at a time when public discussion on sexuality was considered taboo. Her books attracted condemnation from the Church who criticized them for being unabashedly bold and shameless. Nevertheless, this did not dampen the spirit of this social reformer who continued with her campaign for women’s rights. Stopes soon earned a lot of publicity which led her to further write for her cause. It was due to her efforts that social acceptance of books on human sexuality became possible. Interestingly, though Stopes is largely renowned as the advocator of birth control and family planning, she was initially an academician and palaeobotanist before turning into a campaigner. Stopes was the youngest person in Britain to attain a doctorate degree from the University College London and the first female science academician at the University of Manchester. She was truly a great reformer who contributed immensely both as a palaeobotanist and author

Overview

Birthday October 15, 1880 (Libra)
City Edinburgh, Scotland
Died on October 2, 1958
Spouse/Ex- Humphrey Verdon Roe, Reginald Ruggles Gates
Parents
Charlotte Carmichael Stopes
Children Harry Stopes-Roe
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