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The Unfit Heiress: The Tragic Life and Scandalous Sterilization of Ann Cooper Hewitt
Maybe someday
28
/100
I Index Overall Rating
Readers
13/100Critics
44/100Scholars
Author:
Audrey Clare Farley
Publisher:
Grand Central Publishing
Date:
April 20, 2021
In 1934, aided by a California eugenics law, the socialite Maryon Cooper Hewitt had her 'promiscuous' daughter declared feebleminded and sterilized without her knowledge. She did this to deprive Ann of millions of dollars from her father's estate, which contained a child-bearing stipulation. When a sensational court case ensued, the American public was captivated. So were eugenicists, who saw an opportunity to restrict reproductive rights in America for decades to come.
What The Reviewers Say
Farley takes creative license to set the scene and craft conversations, a method that creates an extremely readable narrative. She goes beyond Ann’s story to include the voices of Black, Indigenous, Latina, and poor white women forcibly sterilized throughout modern history—segments that very well could have been expanded into their own book. Given the allegations of forced sterilization at ICE detention centers in 2020, this book is as timely as ever. A gripping tale about the atrocity of systematic reproductive control..
Expertly blending biography and history, and using the life of Ann Cooper Hewitt as a backdrop, Farley has created an absorbing biography effectively explaining how the legacy of eugenics still persists today. Hewitt’s story will engage anyone interested in women’s history..
... intriguing.
Throughout, Farley maintains the focus on Ann and her family. While she does not provide a comprehensive discussion of eugenics, the eye-opening story of the family is a concrete example of lamentable policies that continue to shape the reproductive rights of women.
