POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Outcrossing, Liberal Democracy, Immigration Policy
Eugenics: science of breeding among the fit whilst discouraging breeding
among the unfit
➢
Feeblemindedness is hereditary - genetic
○
Feebleminded were out-breeding the fit --> concern that they will take
over
○
Hereditary and differential fertility = race suicide
○
Three core ideas
➢
Distinctly political and policy relevant
○
Particularly strong support among progressives
▪
Not considered radical
▪
Held widespread support among the great and the good
○
Approx. 66k people eugenically sterilized in North America
○
Policy makers acted on
▪
Powerful case of ideas mattering
○
Welfare support
□
Family policy
▪
Letting in racially fit and keeping out racially unfit
□
Immigration policy
▪
Most widely implemented
□
Sterilization policy
▪
Was the great success story
▪
Affects
○
Features
➢
Canada, Scandinavia, U.S., Germany
○
Why are liberal democracies adopting?
○
'world's greatest democracy'
○
Big Four
➢
Why so widely adopted?
○
Key institution was the home for the feebleminded
▪
Decided if, how, when, how many people were forcibly
sterilized
□
Key actor was the superintendent at homes for the feebleminded
▪
Why not adopted in some areas?
○
Why did it continue in the U.S./Canada after the war?
○
Questions?
➢
War on women
▪
Obsession with female sexuality / reproduction --> desire for men
to control
▪
Misogyny
○
Blacks not forcibly sterilized
▪
Sterilization was about helping people --> racism spared blacks
from mass sterilization because no one cared to try to help
▪
Racism
○
Developed by wealthy / upper classes
▪
Fear of feebleminded working class
▪
Classism
○
Policy activists
○
Explanations
➢
Lecture 2.2: Eugenics
January 16, 2017
12:00 PM
LECTURES Page 38
Document Summary
Eugenics: science of breeding among the fit whilst discouraging breeding among the unfit. Feebleminded were out-breeding the fit --> concern that they will take over. Held widespread support among the great and the good. Letting in racially fit and keeping out racially unfit. Key institution was the home for the feebleminded. Key actor was the superintendent at homes for the feebleminded. Decided if, how, when, how many people were forcibly sterilized. Obsession with female sexuality / reproduction --> desire for men to control. Sterilization was about helping people --> racism spared blacks from mass sterilization because no one cared to try to help. Edison emerick in ohio: h. ramsey in mississippi. Isaac newton and martin w. barr in pennsylvania. Superintendents decided whether, how, and in which number eugenic sterilization occurred. Was a scientific consensus in favour of eugenic sterilization in the. Medical, psychiatric, and social work professions were a constant source of support.
