Imposed or coerced sterilizations is considered as a form of obstetrical and gynecological violence, against Black and Indigenous persons who have disproportionately been the victims. Sterilization refers to a surgical procedure that is done to prevent a person from being fertile, more or less permanently (e.g. tubal ligation, hysterectomy). These surgical procedures are considered forced or coerced if they are done without the person’s knowledge (e.g. during a c-section) or if they are done without the person’s full understanding of the nature and the consequences of the procedure (e.g. due to a language barrier and the absence of an interpreter), which means the procedure take place without the person's free and informed consent.
This review includes descriptions of these practices in the North American context, including Canada and Quebec, as well as Latin American and European contexts. In Quebec, mMost documented imposed or coerced sterilizations have taken place between the 1970s and the 1990s, but some accounts are as recent as 2019, in the province of Quebec.
Fertility control in certain populations, for example Black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC), incarcerated women and women living with intellectual disabilities, has been based on eugenist (racist and ableist practices for “improvement” of the human race through reproduction control) policies throughout history. These policies have particularly targeted indigenous women. Even though eugenic policies were nullified with time, imposed and coerced sterilizations have continued to be performed due to medical colonialism and racism.
Mental and physical consequences of imposed sterilization are discussed in scientific literature, which highlight the impact on the well-being of the survivors. Moreover, possible courses of action are addressed for the recognition of these forms of violence, more broadly, for healthcare decolonization.
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