A Monument in honor of the Enslaved 'Women of Gynecology' unveiled in Montgomery

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A Monument in honor of the Enslaved ‘Women of Gynecology’ unveiled in Montgomery
BY DAN UZOMAMAY 12, 2022



For five years in the late 1840s, J. Marion Sims subjected Anarcha, Betsey, Lucy, and other unnamed enslaved women to painful surgeries without anesthesia, pain relief, or consent.
And on May 7, a monument honoring the ‘Mothers of Gynecology,’ Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey, who underwent dozens of vaginal procedures performed by Sims, was unveiled in Montgomery by Montgomery artist and activist, Michelle L. Browder.

The monument is not far from where the procedures took place, and it is about a mile away from a statue of J. Marion Sims, the “father of gynecology,” which still stands in front of the Alabama State Capitol. The monument resembles wind-up clockwork artifacts: metal sculptures assembled and welded from recycled found parts because “these women were discarded,” ranging in height from 9 to 15 feet.

The sculptures contain both meaningful and painful symbolism. Lucy (9ft) is represented by the shortest figure, who has bike chains for hair. Browder created a tiara for Betsey using a speculum, a tool designed by Sims for vaginal exams (12ft). The statues are all rust and gold in color, with brighter patinas from beads and other accessories.

Surgical scissors are attached to the body of the tallest figure, Anarcha (15ft), who has a cavity in her torso graced by a single metal rose in place of her uterus. Her womb is nearby, filled with cut glass, needles, medical instruments, scissors, and sharp objects meant to make viewers feel the woman’s pain and suffering. Black women’s names are welded to the statues.

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Much more, including photographic details, at the link.

https://mbbaglobal.com/a-monument-to-the-enslaved-women-of-gynecology-isup/

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