Issue:  Pioneer Family Planning Marie Stopes

Type:  Stamp

Number of Stamps:  1

Stamps Denomination:  50p

Issue Date:  2008, Women of Distinction – 14 October 2008

Issued By:  Royal Mail, Great Briton

About

Marie Stopes was a pioneering figure in the field of family planning and reproductive health. She made significant contributions to women’s rights, contraception, and sexual education, particularly in the early 20th century.

Key Details about Marie Stopes and Her Contributions to Family Planning:

• Background and Early Life:

  • Marie Charlotte Carmichael Stopes

  • (1880–1958) was a British scientist, author, and advocate for women’s reproductive rights. She initially trained as a paleobotanist, earning a doctorate from the University of Munich and becoming the youngest person to receive a Doctor of Science degree from University College London.
  • Stopes’ personal experiences and her observations of societal issues related to marriage and motherhood inspired her to address the lack of sexual education and contraceptive options available to women.

• Groundbreaking Book – “Married Love” (1918):

  • In 1918, she published “Married Love”, a revolutionary book that openly discussed sexuality, contraception, and the importance of emotional and physical intimacy within marriage. It was controversial at the time because it addressed topics that were considered taboo, especially for women. The book gained widespread popularity and brought attention to the need for family planning.

• Birth Control Advocacy:

  • Marie Stopes believed that women should have control over their reproductive health and the size of their families. She advocated for the use of contraceptives, which were largely unavailable or socially stigmatized at the time. She aimed to improve the health and well-being of women, particularly in working-class families where unplanned pregnancies often led to economic strain and poor living conditions.

• Founding of the First Birth Control Clinic:

  • In 1921, Stopes and her husband, Humphrey Verdon Roe, established the first family planning clinic in Britain. The clinic, located in Holloway, North London, offered birth control advice, contraception, and educational materials to married women. The clinic was one of the first in the world dedicated to providing contraceptive services.
  • Although initially focused on married women, Stopes’ work expanded over time to include broader access to birth control for all women. The clinic served as a model for family planning services globally.

• Publications and Influence:

  • Marie Stopes published several other influential works, including “Wise Parenthood” (1918), which provided detailed information on contraception methods, and “Radiant Motherhood” (1920), promoting maternal health and the benefits of planned parenthood.
  • Her work directly challenged societal norms, influenced public health policies, and contributed to a broader movement for women’s rights and reproductive autonomy.

• Marie Stopes International:

  • After her death in 1958, her legacy continued through the organization Marie Stopes International (MSI), founded in 1976. MSI has since become a leading provider of family planning, reproductive health, and contraception services worldwide. The organization operates in dozens of countries, offering education, contraception, safe abortion services (where legal), and other reproductive health care to millions of women, particularly in underserved regions.

Legacy:

• Marie Stopes is remembered as a controversial yet influential figure in the fight for women’s reproductive rights. Her pioneering efforts in family planning helped shape modern approaches to contraception and sexual health, improving the lives of countless women globally.

Her work has had a lasting impact, advancing the discourse around women’s health and reproductive choices, which continues to resonate today.