1932
0
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics
  4. Volume 16, 2015
  5. Article

Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics

Volume 16, 2015

Eugenics and Involuntary Sterilization: 1907–2015

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.

Keyword(s): heredity, immigration restriction, population control
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genom-090314-024930
2015-08-24
2024-10-11
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/genom/16/1/annurev-genom-090314-024930.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genom-090314-024930&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

Literature Cited

  1. 1. Amnesty Int. 2013. Amnesty International Report 2013: The State of the World's Human Rights London: Amnesty Int. [Google Scholar]
  2. 2. BBC 2002. Mass sterilisation scandal shocks Peru. BBC News World Ed July 24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2148793.stm [Google Scholar]
  3. Black E. 3.  2012. War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign to Create a Master Race Washington, DC: Dialog [Google Scholar]
  4. Broberg G, Roll-Hansen N. 4.  2005. Eugenics and the Welfare State: Sterilization Policy in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland Lansing: Mich. State Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  5. Brock R. 5.  1934. Report of the Departmental Committee on Sterilization London: His Majesty's Station. Off. [Google Scholar]
  6. Bruinius H. 6.  2007. Better for All the World: The Secret History of Forced Sterilization and America's Quest for Racial Purity New York: Vintage [Google Scholar]
  7. 7. Buck v. Bell 274 U.S. 200 (1927)
  8. Cao A. 8.  1994. 1993 William Allan Award address. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 54:397–402 [Google Scholar]
  9. Chesler E. 9.  1992. Woman of Valor: Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Movement in America New York: Simon & Schuster [Google Scholar]
  10. 10. Cold Spring Harb. Lab 2014. Fitter family contests. Topic. Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movements. http://www.eugenicsarchive.org [Google Scholar]
  11. 11. Dandridge v. Williams 397 U.S. 471 (1970)
  12. Darwin C. 12.  1859. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection London: John Murray [Google Scholar]
  13. Darwin C. 13.  1871. The Descent of Man London: John Murray [Google Scholar]
  14. Davenport CB. 14.  1911. Heredity in Relation to Eugenics New York: Henry Holt [Google Scholar]
  15. 15. Davis v. Berry 216 F. 413 (1914)
  16. Dawber A. 16.  2013. Israel gave birth control to Ethiopian Jews without their consent. Independent Jan. 27. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gave-birth-control-to-ethiopian-jews-without-their-consent-8468800.html [Google Scholar]
  17. Denysenko M. 17.  2007. Sterilised Roma accuse Czechs. BBC News Mar. 12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6409699.stm [Google Scholar]
  18. Dowbigggin I. 18.  2008. The Sterilization Movement and Global Fertility in the Twentieth Century New York: Oxford Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  19. Dugdale RL. 19.  1877. The Jukes: A Study in Crime, Pauperism, Disease and Heredity New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons [Google Scholar]
  20. 20.  Dugger CW. 2001. Relying on hard and soft sells India pushes sterilization. New York Times June 22 A14 [Google Scholar]
  21. Dupuis A, Hamilton D, Cole DE, Corey M. 21.  2005. Cystic fibrosis birth rates in Canada: a decreasing trend since the onset of genetic testing. J. Pediatr. 147:312–15 [Google Scholar]
  22. Essack Z, Strode A. 22.  2012. I feel like half a woman all the time: the impacts of coerced and forced sterilizations on HIV positive women in South Africa. Agenda 26:24–34 [Google Scholar]
  23. Feng W, Cao Y, Baochang G. 23.  2013. Population, policies, and politics: How will history judge China's one-child policy?. Popul. Dev. Rev. 31:Suppl.115–29 [Google Scholar]
  24. Forrest DW. 24.  1974. Francis Galton: The Life and Work of a Victorian Genius New York: Taplinger [Google Scholar]
  25. Freedman LP, Stephen LI. 25.  1993. Human rights and reproductive choices. Stud. Fam. Plan. 24:18–30 [Google Scholar]
  26. Freyka T, Zakharov S. 26.  2013. The apparent failure of Russia's pro-natalist family policies. Popul. Dev. Rev. 39:635–47 [Google Scholar]
  27. Gallagher NL. 27.  2015. Vermont eugenics: a documentary history http://www.uvm.edu/∼eugenics [Google Scholar]
  28. Galton F. 28.  1869. Hereditary Genius: An Inquiry into Its Laws and Consequences London: Macmillan [Google Scholar]
  29. Galton F. 29.  1883. Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development London: Macmillan [Google Scholar]
  30. Gamble CC. 30.  1953. Permanent birth control by sterilization. Third International Conference on Planned Parenthood: Report of the Proceedings, November 24th–29th, 1952, Bombay, India138–39 Bombay: Fam. Plan. Assoc. India [Google Scholar]
  31. Gosney ES, Popenoe P. 31.  1929. Sterilization for Human Betterment New York: Macmillan [Google Scholar]
  32. Gould SJ. 32.  1981. The Mismeasure of Man New York: Norton [Google Scholar]
  33. Grant M. 33.  1918. The Passing of the Great Race New York: Charles Scribner's Sons [Google Scholar]
  34. Grekul J. 34.  2004. Sterilizing the “feeble-minded”: eugenics in Alberta, Canada 1929–1972. J. Hist. Sociol. 17:358–84 [Google Scholar]
  35. 35. Griswold v. Connecticut 381 U.S. 479 (1965)
  36. Haave P. 36.  2007. Sterilization under the swastika: the case of Norway. Int. J. Ment. Health 36:45–57 [Google Scholar]
  37. Haller M. 37.  1963. Eugenics: Hereditarian Attitudes in American Thought New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  38. Haub C, Sharma OP. 38.  2006. India's population reality: reconciling change and tradition Popul. Bull 61 No. 3, Popul. Ref. Bur., Washington, DC [Google Scholar]
  39. Herd H. 39.  1933. Sterilisation of the mentally defective. Lancet 222:783–86 [Google Scholar]
  40. Hillel M, Henry C. 40.  1976. Of Pure Blood New York: McGraw-Hill [Google Scholar]
  41. Hofstadter R. 41.  1959. Social Darwinism in American Thought Boston: Beacon [Google Scholar]
  42. Jian M. 42.  2013. China's brutal one-child policy. New York Times Mar. 22, p. A23 [Google Scholar]
  43. Johansen BE. 43.  2000. Stolen wombs: indigenous women most at risk. Native Am. 17:238–42 [Google Scholar]
  44. Kaback M, Lim-Steele J, Dabholkar D, Brown D, Levy N, Zeiger K. 44.  1993. Tay-Sachs disease—carrier screening, prenatal diagnosis, and the molecular era: an international perspective, 1970 to 1993. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 270:2307–14 [Google Scholar]
  45. Kaelber L. 45.  2011. Eugenics: compulsory sterilization in 50 American states http://www.uvm.edu/∼lkaelber/eugenics [Google Scholar]
  46. Kemp T. 46.  1957. Genetic-hygienic experiences in Denmark in recent years. Eugen. Rev. 49:11–18 [Google Scholar]
  47. Kevles DJ. 47.  1985. In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity New York: Knopf [Google Scholar]
  48. Kitshaber J. 48.  2002. Proclamation of Human Rights Day, and apology for Oregon's forced sterilization of institutionalized patients Speech, Salem, OR, Dec. 2. http://archivedwebsites.sos.state.or.us/Governor_Kitzhaber_2003/governor/speeches/s021202.htm [Google Scholar]
  49. Kluchin RM. 49.  2007. Locating the voices of the sterilized. Public Hist. 29:131–44 [Google Scholar]
  50. Kluchin RM. 50.  2009. Fit to be Tied: Sterilization and Reproductive Rights in America, 1950–1980 New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  51. Krisch JA. 51.  2014. When racism was a science. New York Times Oct. 14, p. D6 [Google Scholar]
  52. Kuhl S. 52.  1994. The Nazi Connection: Eugenics, American Racism, and German National Socialism New York: Oxford Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  53. Larson EJ. 53.  1995. Sex, Race, and Science: Eugenics in the Deep South Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  54. Lawrence J. 54.  2000. The Indian Health Service and the sterilization of Native American women. Am. Indian Q. 24:400–19 [Google Scholar]
  55. Lenz F. 55.  1924. Eugenics in Germany. J. Hered. 15:223–31 [Google Scholar]
  56. Lombardo PA. 56.  2008. Three Generations, No Imbeciles Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  57. Lombardo PA. 57.  2011. A Century of Eugenics in America Indianapolis: Ind. Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  58. Ludmerer K. 58.  1972. Genetics and American Society Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  59. Malthus TR. 59.  1798. An Essay on the Principle of Population London: J. Johnson [Google Scholar]
  60. Medina J. 60.  2014. Arizona Republican official resigns after comments about Medicaid recipients. New York Times Sept. 15, p. A20 [Google Scholar]
  61. 61. Mickle v. Henrichs 262 F. 687 (1918)
  62. Mirovalev M. 62.  2010. Uzbek women accuse state of mass sterilizations. Independent July 17. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/uzbek-women-accuse-state-of-mass-sterilizations-2028987.html [Google Scholar]
  63. Miyaska M. 63.  2009. Punishing paternalism: an ethical analysis of Japan's leprosy control policy. Eubios J. Asian Int. Bioeth. 19:103–7 [Google Scholar]
  64. Mozenski J, Mennuti M. 64.  2013. Cell free DNA testing: Who is driving implementation?. Genet. Med. 15:433–34 [Google Scholar]
  65. Muller-Hill B. 65.  1988. Murderous Science Oxford, UK: Oxford Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  66. Nott JC. 66.  1843. The mulatto a hybrid—probable extermination of the two races if the whites and blacks are allowed to intermarry. Am. J. Med. Sci. 6:11252–56 [Google Scholar]
  67. Paul D. 67.  1995. Controlling Human Heredity: 1865 to the Present Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities [Google Scholar]
  68. 68. Poe v. Lynchburg 518 F.Supp. 789 (W.D. Va. 1981)
  69. Popenoe P. 69.  1933. The progress of eugenic sterilization. J. Hered. 28:19–25 [Google Scholar]
  70. Presser HB. 70.  1969. The role of sterilization in controlling Puerto Rican fertility. Popul. Stud. 2:343–361 [Google Scholar]
  71. Proctor R. 71.  1988. Racial Hygiene: Medicine Under the Nazis Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  72. Ralstin-Lewis DM. 72.  2005. The continuing struggle against genocide: indigenous women's reproductive rights. Wicazo Sa Rev. 20:171–95 [Google Scholar]
  73. Reilly PR. 73.  1991. The Surgical Solution: A History of Involuntary Sterilization in the United States Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
  74. 74. Relf v. Weinberger 372 F.Supp. 1196 (1974), vacated as moot 522 F.2d 722 (D.D.C. 1977)
  75. Roberts D. 75.  1997. Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction and the Meaning of Liberty New York: Pantheon [Google Scholar]
  76. 76. Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
  77. Rubenfeld S. 77.  2010. Medicine After the Holocaust: From the Master Race to the Human Genome and Beyond New York: Palgrave Macmillan [Google Scholar]
  78. 78. Skinner v. Oklahoma 316 U.S. 535 (1942)
  79. Spencer H. 79.  1864. Principles of Biology London: Williams & Norgate [Google Scholar]
  80. Stern AM. 80.  2005. Sterilized in the name of public health: race, immigration, and reproductive control in modern California. Am. J. Public Health 95:1128–38 [Google Scholar]
  81. 81. Swed. Socialdep 2000. Steriliseringsfrågan i Sverige 1935–1975. Statens Offentliga Utredningar (SOU) 2000:20, Swed. Socialdep., Stockholm. http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/108/a/2864 [Google Scholar]
  82. Tavernise S. 82.  2012. Whites account for under half of births in US. New York Times May 7:A12 [Google Scholar]
  83. Thompson M. 83.  1959. Prologue: A Minnesota Story of Mental Retardation Showing Changing Attitudes and Philosophies Prior to September 1, 1959 Minneapolis, MN: Gilbert [Google Scholar]
  84. Tsuchiya T. 84.  1997. Eugenic sterilization in Japan and demands for a recent apology—a report. Newsl. Netw. Ethics Intellect. Disabil. 3:11–4 [Google Scholar]
  85. 85. Wall Str. J 2013. North Carolina offers $10 million for victims of forced-sterilization program. Fox News July 27. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/27/north-carolina-offers-10-million-for-victims-forced-sterilization-program [Google Scholar]
  86. 86. Williams et al. v. Smith 131 N.E. 2 (Ind. 1921)
  87. Witkowski JA, Inglis JR. 87.  2008. Davenport's Dream: 21st Century Reflections on Heredity and Eugenics Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harb. Lab. Press [Google Scholar]
  88. Wong E. 88.  2014. To temper unrest in western China, officials offer money for intermarriage. New York Times Sept. 3, p. A11 [Google Scholar]
  89. Wood HC. 89.  1963. A prescription for the alleviation of welfare abuses and illegitimacy. J. Ky. State Med. Assoc. 61:319–23 [Google Scholar]
  90. Woodside M. 90.  1950. Sterilization in North Carolina Chapel Hill: Univ. N.C. Press [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genom-090314-024930
Loading
  • Article Type: Review Article

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error