The U.S. government and state governments carried out forced sterilizations in the 1930s as part of a broad eugenics movement that sought to prevent individuals deemed "unfit" from reproducing.
It is estimated that by the 1930s, tens of thousands of people had been sterilized in the U.S. under state laws. Approximately 60,000 sterilizations were performed in the 20th century across 30 states. While both men and women were sterilized, young women, particularly those who were poor, disabled, or part of minority communities, were disproportionately targeted.
The sterilizations were justified using eugenics ideology, which aimed to "improve" the genetic quality of the human population by preventing the reproduction of individuals considered "unfit," including those with mental illnesses, disabilities, or perceived moral deficiencies.
They justified these actions because they Reduced the financial burden of welfare and institutional care on society and becuase they promoted racial "purity". The pseudoscientific rationale was bolstered by Supreme Court cases like Buck v. Bell (1927), which upheld the constitutionality of sterilization laws. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes famously wrote, "Three generations of imbeciles are enough," legitimizing eugenic practices.
Before sterilization, some states required legal or quasi-legal proceedings to determine if a person should be sterilized. These trials often involved testimonies from doctors, social workers, and educators about the individual's mental, physical, or moral fitness.
Evaluations of the individual's family history for hereditary conditions.
These hearings were deeply biased and often rubber-stamped sterilizations. People accused of being "feebleminded" or "immoral" had little opportunity to defend themselves.
Advocates argued it would reduce the number of people dependent on public welfare and eliminate the costs of institutionalizing individuals with disabilities or mental illnesses. Many believed sterilization would prevent the transmission of "undesirable" traits to future generations. Supporters claimed sterilization would address societal problems like poverty, crime, and illegitimacy.
Opponents argued sterilization violated individual autonomy and bodily integrity. Critics pointed out that eugenics was based on flawed science and exaggerated claims about heritability. Many recognized the racial, class, and gender biases in how sterilization policies were applied. Religious groups opposed sterilization as immoral and contrary to divine will.
The eugenics movement disproportionately harmed marginalized communities, including poor women, Black women, Native American women, and immigrants. While sterilizations declined after World War II, following revelations about Nazi eugenics policies, coerced sterilization persisted in the U.S. into the 1970s, especially targeting minorities.