Eugenics and Involuntary Sterilization: 1907-2015

Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics
Philip R Reilly

Abstract

In England during the late nineteenth century, intellectuals, especially Francis Galton, called for a variety of eugenic policies aimed at ensuring the health of the human species. In the United States, members of the Progressive movement embraced eugenic ideas, especially immigration restriction and sterilization. Indiana enacted the first eugenic sterilization law in 1907, and the US Supreme Court upheld such laws in 1927. State programs targeted institutionalized, mentally disabled women. Beginning in the late 1930s, proponents rationalized involuntary sterilization as protecting vulnerable women from unwanted pregnancy. By World War II, programs in the United States had sterilized approximately 60,000 persons. After the horrific revelations concerning Nazi eugenics (German Hereditary Health Courts approved at least 400,000 sterilization operations in less than a decade), eugenic sterilization programs in the United States declined rapidly. Simplistic eugenic thinking has faded, but coerced sterilization remains widespread, especially in China and India. In many parts of the world, involuntary sterilization is still intermittently used against minority groups.

References

Apr 1, 1981·Journal of the American Podiatry Association·S J Miller
Jun 29, 2005·American Journal of Public Health·Alexandra Minna Stern
Sep 27, 2005·The Journal of Pediatrics·Annie DupuisMary Corey
Nov 9, 2006·American Indian Quarterly·J Lawrence
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Nov 1, 1969·Population Studies·H B Presser
Dec 12, 2012·Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·Jessica Mozersky, Michael T Mennuti

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Citations

Aug 11, 2017·Maternal and Child Health Journal·Beatriz M FolchNatalie Whaley
Jul 28, 2020·Human Gene Therapy·Terence R Flotte, Jennifer E Adair
Dec 9, 2020·Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health·M Antonia BiggsLori Freedman
Aug 14, 2021·Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM·Amit LahotiTakara L Stanley
Oct 2, 2021·Social Work in Public Health·Moctezuma Garcia
Jun 1, 2017·Pediatrics·Alyssa M BurgartJohn D Lantos

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
contraception
hysterectomy

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