Remembering & Honoring the Mothers of Gynecology

Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey were three enslaved women who were subjected to some of the earliest known gynecological surgeries in the United States during the 19th century.

Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey were all enslaved by Dr. J. Marion Sims, who is often referred to as the "father of modern gynecology." Sims performed surgical experiments on the women without the use of anesthesia, despite the fact that anesthesia was in fact available at the time. The experimental surgeries were done in order to develop a surgical technique for repairing vesicovaginal fistulas, which are injuries that can occur during childbirth. Vesicovaginal fistulas can leave a woman incontinent, as was the case for these women. It is important to note, these women were previously enslaved by other slave owners, but were not as useful to their enslavers due to their incontinence. It is believed that Anarcha first came to know J. Marion Sims when he attempted to use forceps to deliver her infant after she had been in labor for 3 days. What little we know of that labor leads us to believe that infant died, though it is not known if it was because of the forceps, or prior ot the delivery.

The surgeries were brutal and painful, and the women were subjected to them multiple times. It is written that Anarcha had up to 30 surgeries during the time she was enslaved by J. Marion Sims. Despite their suffering, Sims did not provide them with any medical care or compensation.

Sims’ experimentation on Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey was a clear violation of their rights and autonomy as enslaved individuals. His actions have been seen as a reflection of the broader societal disregard for the lives and well-being of enslaved people in the United States during the 19th century.

It is important to acknowledge the legacy of Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey and the role they played in the history of gynecological surgery. Their story serves as a reminder of the atrocities that have been committed in the name of medical progress and the need for ethical considerations in all medical practices. Candescent Health and Wellness is committed to remembering their story and its impact on the history of gynecological surgery, and to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.