The Hysterectomy in U.S. History and Today

This article discusses the complicated history of the hysterectomy, or the removal of the uterus. During the 20th century, women -- most often women of color -- were forcefully sterilized through hysterectomies. At the same time, those seeking hysterectomies are often denied them, facing barriers in the medical system and with their insurance. Today, there are still discrepancies in hysterectomy rates: people with disabilities, people with mental health conditions, people who are incarcerated, poor people, and Black and Latina women are more likely to have hysterectomies. This article explores why and addresses possible ways to move forward.

The hysterectomy’s history is fraught, to say the least. It is at once a history of oppression, racism, and paternalism, as well as a history of liberation, feminism, and choice. The hysterectomy has both been forced upon unconsenting women and withheld from women in need.

SOURCE: WomenAdvaNCe • AUTHOR: Emma Hergenrother • LAST UPDATED: December 17, 2021