Eugenic States: A Contextual Archive

G.B.'s Sterilization Transcript

Case 2, G.B., a 28 year-old married woman, sterilized on April 27, 1932. She was a typical imbecile, unable to read or write, did not know left from right, and had an IQ of 47. She came from a family of many dependents and had herself been a county problem for about ten years. Her husband was blind as the result of a venereal infection. Both he and the patient were living at the county home. There were two living children; one was dead. The children were in an orphanage. The patient made advances to the male inmates at the county home; supervision was difficult. She had few friends. She was unable to mix well and was quarrelsome. She fought with the inmates at the home and was unable to understand what they were talking about. She had a vivid imagination and told many lies. Before her marriage many men visited her home. Her husband was much older than she. He remained at the home; her father was willing to provide for her. The social worker reports that since the operation the patient has shown no changes, mentally or physically. She has always been promiscuous; now at least she is no worse and has not conceived. There have been no changes in her sex feelings.

Contents of this annotation:

  1. G.B.'s Sterilization