Mary Calderone American doctor and sexologist, author of books on sex education Date of Birth: 01.07.1904 Country: USA

Biography of Mary Calderone

Mary Calderone was an American physician and sexologist, known for her contributions in the field of sexual education. She was born on July 1, 1904 in Paris, France. Her bohemian upbringing and Quaker education played a significant role in shaping her liberal views and attitudes towards sex, as well as making her a determined and passionate individual.

Calderone's father, Edward Steichen, was a renowned photographer, and her uncle, Carl Sandburg, was a poet. She attended the Brearley School in New York City and later enrolled in Vassar College, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1925. Despite her initial interest in becoming an actress, Calderone decided to pursue a career in medicine. She studied acting at the American Laboratory Theatre (ALT) and married actor W. Lon Martin, with whom she had two daughters, Nell and Linda. However, she eventually gave up acting and divorced her husband in 1933.

Tragedy struck Calderone when her eight-year-old daughter Nell passed away, leading her to experience a deep depression. After undergoing a series of psychoanalytic tests, Calderone decided to return to her studies and become a doctor. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Rochester in 1939 and later earned a Master's degree in public health from Columbia University in 1942. During this time, she married Dr. Frank A. Calderone, who would later become a high-ranking official in the World Health Organization.

Calderone worked as a physician in Great Neck, New York and in 1953, she became the medical director of the controversial Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In 1958, she organized a national conference that sparked a movement for the legalization of abortion. Recognizing the lack of sexual education in American society, Calderone founded the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) in 1964. SIECUS aimed to provide assistance to school administrators, sexologists, physicians, public figures, and parents seeking access to information on sexual education.

Calderone's persistent belief that sexual education should start from early childhood did not sit well with conservative religious groups, such as MOMS. However, SIECUS gained recognition and respect, partially due to the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Despite facing criticism, Calderone continued to advocate for a positive and morally neutral approach to sexual education.

Although Calderone was firm in her stance for sexual freedoms, she did not endorse the essence of the growing sexual revolution of the 1960s. In 1974, she was named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association (AHA).

Mary Calderone passed away on October 24, 1998, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, at the age of 95. Her legacy as a pioneering figure in the field of sexual education continues to be recognized and celebrated.