Answer:
Compulsory sterilization, also known as forced sterilization, was a policy implemented in several countries throughout the 20th century. In the United States, it was primarily used to control the reproductive abilities of women who were considered "unfit" to bear children due to their perceived physical or mental disabilities, poverty, or race. The women and their families who were subjected to compulsory sterilization often had mixed feelings about the procedure.
Some women and their families welcomed sterilization as a form of birth control, especially in cases where they had several children and could not afford to raise more. Others may have agreed to sterilization under pressure from social workers, who threatened to remove their children or cut off public assistance if they did not comply. Additionally, some women may have been misled about the permanent nature of the procedure, as doctors sometimes used language that suggested the operation was reversible.
However, many women and their families were deeply traumatized by the experience of compulsory sterilization. They felt violated and powerless in the face of the state-sanctioned infringement on their reproductive rights. Many also experienced long-term physical and emotional side effects from the surgery, including chronic pain, depression, and anxiety.
In short, the views of women and their families regarding compulsory sterilization were complex and varied. While some may have seen the procedure as a necessary form of birth control, others experienced it as a traumatic violation of their rights and dignity.