Questions for Friday Discussion: Sterilization

• What was the significance of the 1909 sterilization bill in California? What do you think were the intentions behind this bill?
  
• Do you think the 1917 amendment made sterilization seem more justified to the public?
• How did other states, such as New Jersey and Iowa, feel about sterilization?
• Why was California able to continue sterilization procedures for so long? 
• What trend did Popenoe discover about the individuals who were being sterilized?
• What were the reasons behind the sudden rise in sterilization during the 1970s?
• What happened during the Relf v. Weinberger trial, and what conclusion did the judge make about the number of poor people being sterilized?
• What major observation did Dr. Bernard Rosenfeld make about the County General obstetricians?
• What similarities did all of the plaintiffs' stories share during the Madrigal v. Quilligan trial? What does this show about the views of the major institutions who deceived these women?
• What were the results of the Madrigal and Quilligan trial?