The Sterilization of Carrie Buck

Among the many states with eugenics legislation, Virginia is infamous for its legal campaign to forcibly sterilize Carrie Buck in 1927 and thereby entrench sterilization abuse as the law of the land.

Eugenics boards in 33 states oversaw the sterilization of thousands of people between 1907 and 1977. Nearly all were classified as “feebleminded” and the procedure was often performed against their will or with coerced consent.

Written by Alexandra Fair. Narration by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. Video production by Laura Seeger, Cody Patton, and Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle.