Spock, Benjamin (1903–1998)

Dr. Benjamin McLane Spock redefined the way parents interacted with their children in the mid-20th century, and was an activist who both affected and was affected by the “baby boomer” generation. His core book, The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, was first published in 1946 and soon translated into 39 languages, selling more than 50 million copies (second in sales only to the Bible). In it, Spock prescribed flexibility and affection in parenting and espoused the then exceptional notion that “you know more than you think you do” when it comes to raising your offspring. Previous parenting guides of the early 20th century advised strict rule-setting and limited affection; Spock's book stood in stark contrast. The book itself is a comprehensive, candid guide that opens with the heading, “Trust Yourself and Your Children.” It is a holistic approach but also addresses many specific, common parenting dilemmas, from appropriate sleeping positions for babies to saving for college. Because many parents were very receptive to this new, open, instinctual approach, Dr. Spock became a household name by the early 1950s.

Spock was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1903 and grew up with five younger siblings for whom he was a caretaker along with his parents. After college, Spock became a member of the American rowing team in the 1924 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal. Spock then moved to New York and graduated first of his class in medical school. He trained as a pediatrician and psychiatrist and applied his psychiatric training in the U.S. Navy Reserve in World War II. After his book propelled him to fame, Spock became an outspoken political figure as well, advocating free medical care, the legalization of abortion, homosexuality and marijuana, a guaranteed minimum income for families, and, most ardently, the immediate withdrawal of all American troops from foreign countries, including Vietnam. He was the People's Party candidate for the 1972 presidential election, and was a known figure at demonstrations and speeches of the era. In 1968, Spock was prosecuted on charges of [Page 1334]conspiracy to counsel, aid, and abet resistance to the draft. He was convicted, but never served his prison sentence, and the case was appealed in 1969.

Spock received much criticism for his permissive parenting advice that—some claimed—caused the “decadence” of 1960s youth and a generation raised on instant gratification and selfishness. His book has also been criticized for its lack of inclusion of men as caretakers, and for its assumptions about gender roles. The latter point distressed Spock, and later editions of the book addressed the problem to some extent, by repairing its lingual gender bias and including men in a more active role. Spock died in 1998, after authoring 11 books and raising a family. An activist and advocate for the total health of children and parents, many of Spock's political statements reflected his concern for the well-being of future generations everywhere.