The Sterilization of Carrie Buck

Overview of Forced Sterilization in the U.S.

• In 1973, Nial Ruth Cox revealed her forced sterilization, sparking a court case highlighting decades of sterilization abuse linked to eugenics.

• Eugenics boards in 33 states oversaw the sterilization of thousands from 1907 to 1977, largely those deemed feebleminded, often without consent.

• The concept of eugenics framed a division between fit and unfit reproduction, leading to forced sterilizations.

Virginia's Eugenics Legislation

• Virginia's infamous sterilization of Carrie Buck exemplified systemic abuse stemming from eugenic legislation.

• Legal Framework:

  • On March 20, 1924, the Virginia legislature enacted laws enabling sterilization of individuals classified as feebleminded or socially inadequate.

  • The Virginia Sterilization Act targeted broad categories, including socially marginalized individuals.

• The Virginia Racial Integrity Act (1924) redefined racial purity, classifying individuals with one-sixteenth or more Negro blood as Black.

  • This law also prohibited interracial marriage, establishing a framework for racial discrimination and sterilization.

The Carrie Buck Case

• Carrie Buck, a 17-year-old mentally disabled girl, was forcibly sterilized in response to her pregnancy from rape, highlighting eugenic ideologies.

• Supreme Court Ruling (1927):

  • Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes declared Buck could not consent to sterilization due to her perceived mental incapacity, coining the phrase "three generations of imbeciles is enough."

  • Buck was sterilized shortly after the ruling, and her subsequent life as a ward emphasizes the ongoing control over her autonomy.

Escalation of Sterilization Laws

• Following Buck's case, the number of states sanctioning sterilization of feebleminded individuals increased.

• Institutionalization rates for women surpassed that of men for sterilization purposes, with women of color being disproportionately affected:

  • North Carolina Example: 65% of sterilized individuals (1964-1966) were African American women, significantly higher than their population proportion.

Feminist Response and Activism

• The sterilization abuse issue resonated deeply with feminists of color in the 1960s and 70s.

• The Combahee River Collective actively incorporated anti-sterilization activism into their agenda, along with other social justice issues.

• Their 1977 mission statement underscored the intersection of anti-sterilization efforts with struggles against various forms of oppression.

Continued Impact of Eugenics

• Eugenics beliefs remain relevant today, with forced sterilization still occurring, particularly affecting women of color, disabled, and incarcerated women:

  • A 2021 report indicated that 31 states and D.C. still allow forced sterilization of disabled individuals, violating bodily autonomy.

  • Black disabled women face higher sterilization rates compared to white disabled women.

  • Reports highlight forced sterilizations of immigrant women in detention and incarcerated women, reflecting ongoing systemic issues.

Apologies and Reparations

• Almost a century post-Carrie Buck's sterilization, only a few states have formally acknowledged their role in forced sterilizations.

• States like North Carolina, California, and Virginia have authorized reparations for victims.

• Survivors express mixed feelings about public recognition; while it raises awareness, it cannot replace lost autonomy and rights.