Mary Steichen Calderone
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Dr. Mary Steichen Calderone (born Mary Rose Steichen; July 1, 1904 – October 24, 1998) was an American
physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
,
author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...
,
public speaker Public speaking, also called oratory or oration, has traditionally meant the act of speaking face to face to a live audience. Today it includes any form of speaking (formally and informally) to an audience, including pre-recorded speech deliver ...
, and
public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
advocate for
reproductive rights Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health that vary amongst countries around the world. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows: Reproductive rights rest on t ...
and
sex education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual acti ...
. Known as the "mother of sex education" as well as the "grande dame of sex education", Dr. Calderone was an instrumental figure in the advancement of
reproductive rights Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health that vary amongst countries around the world. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows: Reproductive rights rest on t ...
and
sex education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual acti ...
in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. Among her most notable feats include playing a key role in pushing forward a movement to reexamine and reform abortion laws in the U.S., helping to move
birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
into the mainstream of American medicine, and transforming sex education from "a series of vague moral lessons focused on disease and reproduction" to a scientifically informed, comprehensive framework. In 1953, Mary Calderone became the first female medical director of
Planned Parenthood The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Reve ...
. During her tenure, the organization first began to advocate for abortion law reform. Led by Dr. Calderone, the organization convened a national conference of medical professionals on the issue in 1955. The conference, “''Abortion in the United States''", was the first instance of physicians and other professionals advocating reform of the laws which criminalized abortion, and it played an important role in creating a movement for the reform of abortion laws in the U.S.Reagan, Leslie J. 1997. When Abortion Was a Crime: Women, Medicine, and Law in the United States, 1867–1973. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997 In 1960, when the FDA approved the first oral contraceptive, Dr. Calderone began lobbying the
American Medical Association The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016. The AMA's state ...
(AMA) to endorse contraception as part of standard medical practice. After a four-year struggle, in 1964, she successfully overturned the AMA's policy against the dissemination of
birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
information to patients, helping to move birth control into the mainstream of American medicine. Shifting her focus toward sex education, Dr. Calderone left Planned Parenthood in 1964 to found and serve as Executive Director of
SIECUS The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, or simply SIECUS, is a national, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to advancing sex education through advocacy, policy, and coalition building. SIECUS ...
(Sex Information and Education Council of the United States). During her tenure at SIECUS, she lectured extensively across the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, addressing high school and college students, parents, educators, religious leaders, and professional groups on sex education. Her popularity eventually made her a target for right-wing politicians, and ultra-conservative religious groups like the
Christian Crusade Billy James Hargis (August 3, 1925 – November 27, 2004) was an American Christian evangelist. At the height of his popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, his ''Christian Crusade'' ministry was broadcast on more than 500 radio stations and 250 tele ...
, the
John Birch Society The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ideas. T ...
, and the
Moral Majority Moral Majority was an American political organization associated with the Christian right and Republican Party. It was founded in 1979 by Baptist minister Jerry Falwell Sr. and associates, and dissolved in the late 1980s. It played a key role in ...
, who spent an estimated $40 million on a vicious smear campaign to discredit her. She retired from SIECUS in 1982, at the age of 78. Throughout the latter half of her life, Dr. Calderone wrote many publications advocating open dialogue and access to information for all ages. Her extensive work with popularizing sex education has often been compared to
Margaret Sanger Margaret Higgins Sanger (born Margaret Louise Higgins; September 14, 1879September 6, 1966), also known as Margaret Sanger Slee, was an American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse. Sanger popularized the term "birth control ...
's campaign for birth control.


Early life and family

Mary Calderone was born in New York, New York on July 1, 1904, as Mary Rose Steichen, the first child of
Edward Steichen Edward Jean Steichen (March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973) was a Luxembourgish American photographer, painter, and curator, renowned as one of the most prolific and influential figures in the history of photography. Steichen was credited with tr ...
, a famous Luxembourgish-American photographer and artist, and his first wife, Clara Emma Smith, an
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
singer.Mary Steichen Calderone
''Vassar Encyclopedia''. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
Soon after her birth, the Steichen family moved to
Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
, and then later to
Voulangis Voulangis () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Demographics Inhabitants of Voulangis are called ''Voulangeois''. See also *Communes of the Seine-et-Marne department The follow ...
,
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, a small farming village approximately 32 km east of
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
. Her younger sister, Charlotte "Kate" Rodina Steichen, was born in Paris on May 27, 1908. While in Voulangis, the family frequently received visits from Edward Steichen's artist friends and colleagues, including
Constantin Brâncuși Constantin Brâncuși (; February 19, 1876 – March 16, 1957) was a Romanian Sculpture, sculptor, painter and photographer who made his career in France. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th-century and a pioneer of ...
,
Auguste Rodin François Auguste René Rodin (12 November 184017 November 1917) was a French sculptor, generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a uniqu ...
,
Isadora Duncan Angela Isadora Duncan (May 26, 1877 or May 27, 1878 – September 14, 1927) was an American dancer and choreographer, who was a pioneer of modern contemporary dance, who performed to great acclaim throughout Europe and the US. Born and raised in ...
, Paul Cezanne,
Henri Matisse Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known prima ...
, and
Pablo Picasso Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and Scenic design, theatre designer who spent most of his adult life in France. One of the most influential artists of the 20th ce ...
. Biographer Jeffrey Moran suggests that Mary's
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childhood with her famous father, her uncle
poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...
Carl Sandburg Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) was an American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. During his lifetime, Sandburg ...
, and
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...
upbringing influenced her liberal outlook on sex as well as contributed to her opinionated and passionate nature. When Mary Calderone was six, for instance, she berated family friend and sculptor,
Constantin Brâncuși Constantin Brâncuși (; February 19, 1876 – March 16, 1957) was a Romanian Sculpture, sculptor, painter and photographer who made his career in France. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th-century and a pioneer of ...
, for his horizontal-headed bird pieces, which would undoubtedly hinder the bird from singing. Brâncuși complied and began sculpting birds with more upturned heads. A the start of the
First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, in 1914, the family fled to
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
. Calderone's parents separated soon after and sent Mary to live in New York City at the home of their friends, Dr. Leopold and Elizabeth Stieglitz, brother and sister-in-law of Steichen's friend and photography colleague,
Alfred Stieglitz Alfred Stieglitz (January 1, 1864 – July 13, 1946) was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was instrumental over his 50-year career in making photography an accepted art form. In addition to his photography, Stieglitz was kno ...
. Calderone’s interest in medicine began while accompanying Dr. Stieglitz on his hospital rounds. While in New York, Calderone attended the
Brearley School The Brearley School is an all-girls private school in New York City, located on the Upper East Side neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan. The school is divided into lower (kindergarten – grade 4), middle (grades 5–8) and upper (grades 9 ...
for her secondary education. She
matriculate Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...
d at
Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely follo ...
, graduating in 1925 with an
B.A. Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
in
Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
. Calderone decided to go into theatre and studied for three years at the
American Laboratory Theatre The American Laboratory Theatre was an American drama school and theatrical company located in New York City that existed during the 1920s and 1930s. It was a publicly subsidized, student-subscription organization that held fund-raising campaign ...
. She was the model for the figures on the
Pratt Institute Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. It has a satellite campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. The school was ...
flagpole, whose bronze was sculpted by her uncle Willard Dryden Paddock, and was erected in 1926 to commemorate the soldiers who served in
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. In 1926, Calderone married actor W. Lon Martin and had two daughters, Nell (1926) and Linda (1928). With her marriage declining, she abandoned acting and divorced in 1933. In 1935, her eight-year-old daughter Nell died of pneumonia. This, along with dashed acting dreams and a divorce, plunged Calderone into depression. After an in-depth series of aptitude tests at the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation in New York, at age 30, she decided to return to education and study medicine. She obtained her
M.D. Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. T ...
degree from the
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medical school in 1939, and later, her M.P.H. from
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
in 1942. For her field study at Columbia, Calderone worked as a health officer-in-training at
Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Traditionally an im ...
District Health Center in New York City, where she met Dr. Frank A. Calderone, whom she married in 1941. Frank Calderone was then the head of the Lower East Side District Health Center, and after serving as the first deputy health commissioner of
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
from 1943 to 1946, became a leading figure in the
World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...
(WHO) during its formative years. The
Calderone Prize The Frank A. Calderone Prize in Public Health is the most prestigious award in the field of public health. It is given every two years by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health to an individual who has made a "transformational c ...
, the most prestigious prize in the field of public health, is named after him. The couple had two daughters, Francesca (1943) and Maria (1946).


Career


Planned Parenthood

Dr. Calderone worked as a physician in the
Great Neck, New York Great Neck is a region on Long Island, New York, that covers a peninsula on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore and includes nine villages, among them Great Neck (village), New York, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, New York, Great Neck Es ...
public school system from 1949 to 1953. As a female public health professional and physician - a rarity at the time - she became well-known in public health circles, as she regularly attended the American Public Health Association's annual conferences. In 1953,
William Vogt William Vogt (15 May 1902 – 11 July 1968) was an American ecologist and ornithologist, with a strong interest in both the carrying capacity and population control. He was the author of best-seller ''Road to Survival'' (1948), National Direc ...
, National Director of the controversial
Planned Parenthood Federation of America The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Reven ...
, offered Dr. Calderone the position of Medical Director. Despite being advised by her public health colleagues that taking the job would be "professional suicide", Calderone accepted the position, hoping that her role would help " egitimizefamily planning in the worlds of medicine and public health.” Dr. Calderone's 11-year tenure at Planned Parenthood was prolific. In 1955, she organized "Abortion in the United States", a national conference of medical professionals that instigated the movement to legalize
abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
. This was the first instance of physicians and other professionals advocating reform of the laws which criminalized abortion, and it played a key role in creating a movement for the reform of abortion laws in the U.S. The conference, which had no advanced publicity at the time, resulted in a book, ''Abortion in the United States'', which was published in 1958 to critical acclaim and remained a classic in its field for years. According to historian Ellen S. More, “ many ways the book was a milestone. Not only did it reveal a deep commitment among respected medical practitioners and scholars to treat abortion and contraception as subjects of legitimate research, but... because the book included a summary of the laws in every state pertaining to abortion, it became a reference for legal scholars and policy activists, not only physicians.” Prior to Dr. Calderone, Planned Parenthood, and its founder
Margaret Sanger Margaret Higgins Sanger (born Margaret Louise Higgins; September 14, 1879September 6, 1966), also known as Margaret Sanger Slee, was an American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse. Sanger popularized the term "birth control ...
, avoided the controversial subject of abortion, arguing that it would not be needed if every woman had access to birth control. Today, Planned Parenthood is the largest single provider of reproductive health services and the largest single provider of
abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
, in the United States. Dr. Calderone was also instrumental in moving birth control into the mainstream of American medicine. As an effective liaison between Planned Parenthood and the public health establishment, she worked behind the scenes to lobby professional medical groups such as the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the
American Medical Association The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016. The AMA's state ...
(AMA), to support contraception as part of standard medical practice. In 1959, she successfully won the endorsement of the APHA, which became the first large professional organization to issue a public statement endorsing family planning as part of ordinary medical care, declaring that “full freedom should be extended to all population groups for the selection and use of such methods for the regulation of family size as are consistent with the creed and mores of the individuals concerned." However, her biggest success came in 1964, when she successfully convinced the more conservative AMA to overturn its longstanding policy against the dissemination of
birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
information to patients, and endorse contraception as part of standard medical practice. During her tenure at Planned Parenthood, Dr. Calderone also wrote numerous articles for popular and professional periodicals, as well as books such as ''Release from Sexual Tensions'' (1960) and ''Manual of Contraceptive Practice'' (1964), a pioneering medical text.


SIECUS

As letters arrived at Dr. Calderone's office in Planned Parenthood daily asking questions about not just the physical act of sex, but sexuality at large, Calderone came to the realization that sexuality did not just equate to genitality, and that sex education was sorely lacking in American society. Believing that her work should be limited to preventive measures against
pregnancy Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops ( gestates) inside a woman's uterus (womb). A multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy usually occurs by sexual intercourse, but ca ...
, and with the conviction that simply "handing out contraceptives was not enough," Dr. Calderone quit her position at Planned Parenthood in 1964 and established
SIECUS The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, or simply SIECUS, is a national, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to advancing sex education through advocacy, policy, and coalition building. SIECUS ...
(the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States), the first and only single-issue, national advocacy group dedicated to promoting sex education. Driven by Dr. Calderone's dynamic talks across the nation and its mission statement, "to establish man's sexuality as a health entity," the organization became an essential umbrella group for school administrators, sex educators, physicians, social activists, and parents seeking to access information about teaching sexuality education. Dr. Calderone soon became a household name and "a magnet for publicity sarticles in ''
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'', '' Look'', ''
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'', ''
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'', ''
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'', ''
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'', and other popular magazines profiled her life and analyzed her arguments,
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her appearances on TV shows such as the ''
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'' and ''
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'' reached millions of viewers.”


Attacks

Dr. Calderone and her organization became recognized and respected with the message of sex as a positive force, but opponents also watched her closely. Her insistence that sex education should begin as early as kindergarten, with age-appropriate lessons on topics such as basic anatomy and consent, drew the ire of right-wing politicians and religious conservative groups like
Mothers Organized for Moral Stability Mothers Organized for Moral Stability, also known as MOMS, was a socially conservative American organization that arose in Orange County, California in the 1960s and whose primary goal was to counter the cultural trend at the time towards allowing s ...
(MOMS) and the
John Birch Society The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ideas. T ...
, who spent an estimated $40 million on a vicious smear campaign to discredit her. In 1968, the Christian Crusade's
Billy James Hargis Billy James Hargis (August 3, 1925 – November 27, 2004) was an American Christian evangelist. At the height of his popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, his ''Christian Crusade'' ministry was broadcast on more than 500 radio stations and 250 te ...
and Gordon V. Drake targeted SIECUS, and in particular, Dr. Calderone, in the infamous '' Is the School House the Proper Place to Teach Raw Sex?'' pamphlet, as well as other similar fearmongering publications, claiming that the organization sought to undermine Christian morality, promote
promiscuity Promiscuity is the practice of engaging in sexual activity frequently with different Sexual partner, partners or being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners. The term can carry a moral judgment. A common example of behavior viewed as pro ...
, and corrupt children. The pamphlet, which included deliberate misquotations and fabrications of events, also argued that sex education is part of a "giant
Communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
conspiracy." Soon after, SIECUS and Dr. Calderone became targets of a nationwide smear campaign, with Calderone’s speaking appearances drawing picket lines and protests from ultra-conservative groups who followed her across the country. By the mid-1970s, Dr. Calderone's influence had been weakened by these attacks, and SIECUS's funding and resources began to dwindle. In 1978, she stepped down as Executive Director of SIECUS, although she remained as President. Nevertheless, Dr. Calderone's crusade for sex education with a "positive approach and moral neutrality" continued, as did her expansion of sex education as a means to talk about topics other than the physical act of sex, such as puberty, consent, and sexism. Despite her opponents' characterization of her as an "aging sexual libertine", as a grandmother and practicing
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...
, Calderone's personal convictions did not align with the burgeoning
sexual revolution The sexual revolution, also known as the sexual liberation, was a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the United States and the developed world from the 1 ...
of the late 1960s. While she was adamant about sexual freedom, Calderone personally believed that sex should be ultimately reserved for marriage and that sexuality finds its peak expression through a permanent monogamous bond. After years of vitriolic attacks and death threats from extremist groups, Dr. Calderone retired from SIECUS in 1982, at the age of 78.


Later career

From 1982 to 1988, Dr. Calderone was an adjunct professor in human sexuality at
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...
. She published several books on sex education, including ''The Family Book About Sexuality'' (1981; with Eric W. Johnson) and ''Talking with Your Child About Sex: Questions and Answers for Children from Birth to Puberty'' (1982; with James W. Ramey). She continued to be a frequent and popular lecturer and was the recipient of numerous professional and humanitarian awards.


Death

Dr. Calderone was a resident of Kendal at Longwood, a
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...
continuing care retirement community in
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania Kennett Square is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over 500 million pounds of mushrooms a year, totaling half of the United ...
. She died in the skilled nursing facility there on October 24, 1998. She was 94.


Awards and honors

Dr. Calderone has received numerous awards and honors both posthumously and over the course of her life. * Browning Award for Prevention of Diseases, American Public Health Association * Elizabeth Blackwell Award for Distinguished Services to Humanity,
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hobart and William Smith Colleges are Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts colleges in Geneva, New York. They trace their origins to Geneva Academy established in 1797. Students can choose from 45 maj ...
* Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Schlesinger Library The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America is a research library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University. According to Nancy F. Cott, the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Director, ...
of
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/
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* The Award for Human Service from the Mental Health Association of New York * Humanist of the Year from the
American Humanist Association The American Humanist Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that advances secular humanism. The American Humanist Association was founded in 1941 and currently provides legal assistance to defend the constitutiona ...
(1974) *
Margaret Sanger Award The Margaret Sanger Award was an honor awarded annually by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America from 1966 to 2015. Created to honor the legacy of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, it is the Federation's highest honor. It ...
from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (1980) *
National Women’s Hall of Fame The National Women's Hall of Fame (NWHF) is an American institution incorporated in 1969 by a group of men and women in Seneca Falls, New York, although it did not induct its first enshrinees until 1973. As of 2021, it had 303 inductees. Induc ...
inductee (1998)National Women's Hall of Fame, Mary Steichen Calderone
/ref>


Honorary degrees

* D.Med. Science (honorary), Women's Medical College (now
Drexel University College of Medicine Drexel University College of Medicine is the medical school of Drexel University, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The medical school represents the consolidation of two medical schools: the first U.S. medical school ...
), 1967. * Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Newark State College (now
Kean University Kean University () is a public university in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey, Union and Hillside, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. Kean University was founded in 1855 in Newark, New Jersey, as th ...
), 1971. * Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary),
Dickinson College , mottoeng = Freedom is made safe through character and learning , established = , type = Private liberal arts college , endowment = $645.5 million (2022) , president = J ...
, 1981. * Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Jersey City State College (now
New Jersey City University New Jersey City University (NJCU) is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey. Originally chartered in 1927, and known as Jersey City State College for 40 years of its history, New Jersey City University consists of the School of Business, ...
), 1982. * Doctor of Science (honorary),
Adelphi University Adelphi University is a private university in Garden City, New York. Adelphi also has centers in Manhattan, Hudson Valley, and Suffolk County. There is also a virtual, online campus for remote students. It is the oldest institution of higher ed ...
, 1971. * Doctor of Science (honorary), Worcester Foundation Experimental Biology (now
University of Massachusetts Medical School The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School is a public medical school in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is part of the University of Massachusetts system. It is home to three schools: the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Morningside Grad ...
), 1974. * Doctor of Science (honorary),
Brandeis University , mottoeng = "Truth even unto its innermost parts" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = NECHE , president = Ronald D. Liebowitz , pro ...
, 1975. * Doctor of Science (honorary),
Haverford College Haverford College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Haverford, Pennsylvania. It was founded as a men's college in 1833 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), began accepting non-Quakers in 1849, and became coeducational ...
, 1978. * Doctor of Science (honorary),
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
, 1985. * Doctor of Laws (honorary),
Kenyon College Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio. It was founded in 1824 by Philander Chase. Kenyon College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Kenyon has 1,708 undergraduates enrolled. Its 1,000-acre campus is se ...
, 1972. * Ped.D. (honorary),
Hofstra University Hofstra University is a private university in Hempstead, New York. It is Long Island's largest private university. Hofstra originated in 1935 as an extension of New York University (NYU) under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of Ne ...
, 1978. * Doctor of Humanities (honorary),
Bucknell University Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. ...
, 1982.


Selected works and publications

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See also

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References


External links


Papers, 1904–1971.Schlesinger Library
Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. {{DEFAULTSORT:Calderone, Mary 1904 births 1998 deaths American feminists American humanists American people of Luxembourgian descent American abortion-rights activists American Quakers Sex education advocates Vassar College alumni University of Rochester alumni Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health alumni American public health doctors 20th-century American women physicians 20th-century American physicians Brearley School alumni Quaker feminists 20th-century Quakers Women public health doctors