As American women began to reject Victorian propriety, authorities feared that "oversexed" women could destroy civilization if allowed to reproduce and pass on their defects. In 1934, aided by a eugenics law, socialite Maryon Cooper Hewitt had her "promiscuous" daughter declared feebleminded and sterilized. This was to deprive Ann of millions of dollars from her father's estate, which contained a child-bearing stipulation. A sensational court case ensued, captivating the public and eugenicists, who saw a chance to restrict reproductive rights in America
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