Between 1930 and 1970, around one third of all women in Puerto Rico were sterilized to address concerns of 'surplus population'

Between 1930 and 1970, around one third of all women in Puerto Rico were sterilized to address concerns of 'surplus population'

La Perla, a large slum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1934Bettmann via GettyWhen Puerto Rico became a colony of the US in 1898, much of its population was living in poverty.The US government and Puerto Rico's appointed government instituted an economic development strategy for the island called "Operation Bootstrap."To address concerns of "surplus population," the governments encouraged residents to move out of Puerto Rico, while also pushing sterili…

Between 1930 and 1970, around one third of all women in Puerto Rico were sterilized to address concerns of 'surplus population'

After Puerto Rico became a US colony in 1898, the federal and local governments pushed sterilization as a way to "economically develop" the island.