_What Every Girl Should Know_ [Illustration] BY Margaret H. Sanger AUTHOR OF “How Six Little Children Were Taught the Truth.” SENTINEL PRINTING CO. PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS READING, PENNA. [Illustration] Dedication TO THE WORKING GIRLS OF THE WORLD THIS LITTLE BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED Contents CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER II. GIRLHOOD. Part I. Physical Growth. Part II. Mental Development. CHAPTER III. PUBERTY. Part I. General Organs, Uterus, Ovaries, Etc. Part II. Menstruation and Its Disorders. CHAPTER IV. SEXUAL IMPULSE. Part I. Masturbation Part II. Sexual Impulse in Animals—In Men. Its Significance in Love. CHAPTER V. Reproduction. Part I. Growth of the Life Cell in the Uterus. Part II. Hygiene of Pregnancy—Miscarriage. CHAPTER VI. SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORANCE AND SILENCE. Part I. Continence in Young Men. Part II. Gonorrhoea. Part III. Syphilis. CHAPTER VII. MENOPAUSE. What Every Girl Should Know CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Students of vice, whether teachers, clergymen, social workers or physicians, have been laboring for years to find the cause and cure for vice, and especially for prostitution. They have failed so far to agree on either the cause or the cure, but it is interesting to know that upon one point they have been compelled to agree, and that is, that =ignorance of the sex functions= is one of the strongest forces that sends young girls into =unclean= living. This, together with the knowledge of the rapidly increasing spread of venereal diseases and the realization of their subtle nature, has awakened us to the need of a saner and healthier attitude on the sex subject, and to the importance of =sex education= for boys and girls. This need has shown itself so clearly that the question no longer seems to be, “Is there need of instruction?” but, “Who shall instruct?” Shall the mother or teacher instruct? When shall such instruction be given? In childhood, or in puberty? These are the points now under discussion.