The Mothers of Gynecology Movement sprang out of criticism of 19th century gynecologist

J. Marion Sims James Marion Sims (January 25, 1813November 13, 1883) was an American physician in the field of surgery. His most famous work was the development of a surgical technique for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula, a severe complication of obstruc ...

' experimental surgeries on enslaved women who were unable to consent to their surgeries. Their surgeries were often performed without anesthesia. His work has been described in the late 20th century as an example of racism in the medical profession. Though Sims had many patients, there are only three known patients of his:

Anarcha Westcott Anarcha Westcott (c. 1828 – unknown) was an enslaved woman who underwent a series of painful experimental surgical procedures conducted by physician J. Marion Sims, without the use of anesthesia, to treat a combination of vesicovaginal fistu ...

, and two lesser known women, Lucy and Betsey, which have been described as the "mothers of gynecology" in the United States, to demonstrate the contributions of their experiences to modern medicine.

Terri Kapsalis Terri is an alternative spelling of Terry. It is a common feminine given name and is also a diminutive for Teresa. Notable people with the name include: *Terri Allard (born 1962), American country/folk singer/songwriter * Terri S. Armstrong, Ame ...

writes in ''Mastering the Female Pelvis'', "Sims' fame and wealth are as indebted to slavery and racism as they are to innovation, insight, and persistence, and he has left behind a frightening legacy of medical attitudes toward and treatments of women, particularly women of color." In 2017, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio launched a commission to evaluate a statue of J. Marion Sims in Central Park. During the 90 day evaluation period, author J.C. Hallman's essay about the Sims monument, "Monumental Error," appeared on the cover of Harper's Magazine, and was published during the time the Public Design Commission held public forums for the evaluation of these monuments. The piece contributed to the greater, nationwide debate about the role of Confederate monuments. The article was distributed to the entire commission. The Sims statue was voted out by unanimous decision and removed in April 2018. In March 2021, artist

Michelle Browder 'MichelleBrowder (born 1971) is an American artist and activist known for her sculptures in Montgomery, Alabama, and historical tours of the area. Early life and education Browder was born in Denver, Colorado and her family moved to Verbena, A ...

held an event in Los Angeles where she asked the public to bring discarded metal objects so they could be melted down in order to create a monument to the mothers of gynecology. The monument is currently being completed in San Francisco. Sims reported in his own medical literature that Anarcha was 17 and pregnant when he completed the first of 30 total surgeries on her; Lucy spent three months in recovery from a surgery of his. Browder said to the San Francisco Chronicle: "If you’ve ever had a

Pap smear The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in t ...

, you have Anarcha, Lucy and Betsey to thank." The monument will be erected in Montgomery, Alabama.{{Cite web , date=2021-03-05 , first=Deborah , last=Vanken , title=Enslaved women suffered in gynecology experiments. A monument project for them visits L.A. , url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-03-05/mothers-of-gynecology-j-marion-sims , website=Los Angeles Times , language=en-US "Discarded objects represent how Black women have been treated in this country," Browder said to the ''Los Angeles Times.'' "But it also represents the beauty that's in the broken and the discarded."

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* https://www.anarchalucybetsey.org/ 19th-century American physicians American gynecologists American proslavery activists Slavery in the United States American surgeons History of medicine in the United States History of Montgomery, Alabama Human subject research in the United States Medical scandals in the United States Black Lives Matter J. Marion Sims Slavery-related organizations

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