Located at 17 Mildred Street in Montgomery, Alabama, near the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Mothers of Gynecology Monument by Michelle Browder is a powerful public artwork unveiled on September 24, 2021. You should visit to honor Anarcha Westcott, Betsey, and Lucy—three enslaved women who were bought or rented without agency and exploited as patients by controversial doctor J. Marion Sims.
Created in response to a removed nearby statue of Sims, Browder crafted these towering figures from discarded metal objects contributed by the public to symbolize how Black women have been treated and to demonstrate beauty in the broken and discarded. Standing tall so no one ever looks down on them again, the statues feature striking symbolic details. The 15-foot statue of Anarcha includes a slave ship around her legs and a discarded womb filled with sharp objects representing her pain and bondage.
The 12-foot statue of Lucy features Bantu knots made of bicycle chains and a slave ship at her waist. The 9-foot statue of pregnant Betsey wears a crown of speculums and is inscribed with the names of important enslaved women and Civil Rights icons.
What to see at Mothers of Gynecology Monument
- Monument created by artist Michelle Browder from discarded metal objects
- Features three towering statues: Anarcha (15 ft), Lucy (12 ft), and Betsey (9 ft)
- Symbolic details including slave ships, bicycle-chain Bantu knots, and a speculum crown
- Betsey's statue is inscribed with names of enslaved women and Civil Rights Movement figures
- Built to honor women exploited by J. Marion Sims, near the National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Visiting tips
Take time to closely inspect the intricate metalwork and read the names inscribed on Betsey's statue to fully appreciate the monument's symbolic depth.
How long: 1 hour · Best time: Daylight hours
How to get there & what’s nearby
Mothers of Gynecology Monument is easy to reach on Montgomery’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and The National Memorial to Peace and Justice. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Montgomery travel guide.
See the full Montgomery travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.