Wattleton, Faye (1943–)

African-American reproductive-rights activist. Name variations: Alyce Faye Wattleton. Born Alyce Faye Wattleton on July 8, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri; dau. of George Edward Wattleton (factory worker) and Ozie (Garrett) Wattleton (seamstress and preacher); graduate of Ohio State University Nursing School, 1964; Columbia University, MS, 1967; m. Franklin Gordon (social worker), 1973 (div. 1981); children: Felicia Gordon (b. 1975).

Was the 1st African-American, the 1st woman since founder Margaret Sanger, and the youngest individual to serve as president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA); worked as a consultant and assistant director of Public Health Nursing Services for Dayton, Ohio (1967); became executive director of the local Planned Parenthood board (1969); became chair of the national executive director's council of PPFA (1975) and was appointed to the presidency (1978); soon began to change the direction of Planned Parenthood, which until then had been recognized primarily for its 850 clinics in 46 states, serving some 3 million each year with everything from infertility counseling and birth control to prenatal care; was a strong advocate for women's rights and reproductive freedom, making numerous guest appearances on radio and tv talk shows to rally support; was president of PPFA (1978–92); established a women's policy think tank, the Center for Gender Equality, to promote a national dialogue on the economic, political, and educational aspects of women's lives in addition to health and reproductive rights (1995). Received American Humanist Award (1986) and the Jefferson Award for the Greatest Public Service Performed by a Private Citizen (1992); inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (1993).

See also Women in World History.