Fighting for Survivors of Forced Sterilization
The United States has a long—and continuing—practice of forcibly sterilizing women of color, taking away their basic human right to become a parent.
Forced sterilization of women who were poor, disabled, have mental health problems, or incarcerated was commonplace in the United States only 50 years ago. In fact, the U.S. was the first country to force sterilization for eugenic purposes. While today this practice is illegal, it is still happening in the US.
It’s happening in prisons and immigration detention centers across the United States, where doctors are performing unwarranted hysterectomies and bilateral tubal ligation without proper consent.
Last year, California announced it would pay out millions of dollars to living survivors of the state’s forced sterilization efforts thanks to today’s guest who co-sponsor the bill.
In this episode, Laura Jimenez, Executive Director of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, discusses the racist, classist, ableist history of forced sterilization and why it’s still happening today.
Laura has worked with women of color organizations across the country on issues of reproductive justice, including the National Latina Health Organization, the Dominican Women’s Development Center and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective.
Laura is passionate about issues of immigration, environmental justice, and birthing and parenting, as they intersect with reproductive justice. She holds degrees in Ethnic Studies from both UC San Diego and San Francisco State University.
Topics covered:
The origins of sterilization and eugenics in the United States
The reproductive justice framework
How the term “feeble minded” is inherently racist
Her fight to get reparations to women survivors of forced sterilization in California
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