By Daniel De La Rosa

Forced sterilization of American women, was done by doctors in the 1970s-1980s, Women would go to doctors and other healthcare professionals and would unbeknownst to them go through involuntary sterilization specifically a tubal ligation, where the fallopian tubes are tied to prevent pregnancy. This process was done to many women in America, the involuntary sterilization was actually targeted toward certain women, specifically black women, minors, women on welfare, and the mentally ill. For women who fit these categories, doctors performed a life-changing surgery often irreversible without their consent. As shown in the collage, these are stories all from the New York Times, highlighting times in the past where women who came to the doctor seeking medical help had their reproductive rights taken from them, doctors who are supposed to be healthcare providers instead overstepped their boundaries are took peoples reproductive rights away, the right to bear a child and start a family, an example of a doctor overstepping boundaries as highlighted from the collage can be seen in the case of Valerie Cilett, who after the birth of her third child and third son, she expressed disappointment that she really wanted a girl, the day after she was taken to an operating room and sterilized, not once did she ever order the surgery and did not learn about it until 6 months later. Involuntary Sterilization was done in masses, as shown in the photo collage in Virginia during the years 1924 - 1972, six mental state hospitals involuntary sterilized over 7,000 people, the New York Times article mentions that sterilizations were justified as being done with the mindset that it was “good for society”.

References:

Aide Says 11 May Have Been Sterilized

New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 03 July 1973: 6.

'Noncompliance' Seen on Sterilization

By PETER KIHSS.

New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 14 Apr 1975: 8.

Sterilization Consent Not Given, Father Tells Kennedy's Panel: Damage Suit Filed Administration's Stand Got All Over Me' Dean and Ehrlichman Cited

By BILL KOVACHSpecial to The New York Times.

New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 11 July 1973: 16.

Sterilization in Alabama

New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 12 July 1973: 38.

The Volatile Issue of Sterilization Abuse: A Tangle of Accusations and Remedies

BROZAN, NADINE.

New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 09 Dec 1977: B10.

Virginia Is Sued by Victims Of Involuntary Sterilization: 'For the Good of Society' Addresses Group of Reporters 'Emotional and Intellectual Loss' Creation of Safeguards Sought

By RICHARD D. LYONS Special to The New York Times.

New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 30 Dec 1980: A6.