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Cover of What Every Mother Should Know; or, How Six Little Children Were Taught The Truth

What Every Mother Should Know; or, How Six Little Children Were Taught The Truth

Written by Margaret Sanger

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Sex instruction

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About this book

"What Every Mother Should Know; or, How Six Little Children Were Taught The…" by Margaret H. Sanger is a pioneering publication on sex education written in the early 20th century. This book is an educational guide aimed at parents, particularly mothers, to impart knowledge of reproduction and sexual health to children in an engaging and honest way. The text emphasizes the importance of teaching children about the processes of life and birth without shame or secrecy. The narrative follows a mother, referred to as Bobby's mother, as she introduces her young son and his friends to the fundamental truths of reproduction through nature. Starting with flowers, she explains the concept of growth and reproduction in a relatable manner, transitioning to lessons about frogs, birds, and eventually mammals, including human beings. Sanger emphasizes that understanding these natural processes instills confidence and reduces stigma around sexuality. The book encourages open communication between parents and children about their bodies, aiming to create a healthier understanding of reproduction while fostering trust and knowledge that will last through their development.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in What Every Mother Should Know; or, How Six Little Children Were Taught The Truth, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • educational
  • enlightening
  • pioneering

Margaret Sanger's "What Every Mother Should Know" is a groundbreaking early 20th-century guide advocating for open and honest sex education for children. Framed as a narrative, it follows a mother teaching her son, Bobby, and his friends about reproduction, using examples from nature—flowers, frogs, birds, and mammals—before discussing human life. The book champions a shame-free approach, believing that understanding natural processes instills confidence and reduces stigma around sexuality. It serves as a pedagogical tool for parents, particularly mothers, encouraging direct communication to foster a healthy understanding of life and birth.

“To teach our children the truth about life's beginnings is to arm them with confidence, not fear.”

Key themes

Sex Education and Openness
This is the foundational theme of the book, advocating for direct, honest, and age-appropriate sex education for children. Sanger argues that withholding information or shrouding it in secrecy leads to ignorance, fear, and shame, whereas open communication fosters healthy understanding and confidence.
Naturalism and Biology as Teacher
The book extensively uses the natural world as a metaphor and a direct teaching tool for reproduction. By starting with observable biological processes in plants and animals, Sanger demystifies human reproduction, presenting it as a normal, beautiful, and integral part of the natural order, rather than something mysterious or taboo.
Parental Responsibility and Empowerment of Mothers
The book places a significant emphasis on the mother's role as the primary educator in sex education, reflecting societal expectations of the early 20th century. It empowers mothers by providing them with the tools and justification to undertake this crucial responsibility, positioning them as vital figures in their children's holistic development.

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