Research Paper
Tasia D. Simon, BSW
MHA 5303 Health Law, Ethics and Policy
Winston Salem State University
December 2, 2015
Montrale D. Boykin, JD Abstract
Research Paper
There were many unfavorable events that happened in US history. One such event was eugenics. Eugenicists alleged genetics were the cause of problems for the human gene pool. Eugenicists had a theory that society already had paid enough to support these individuals and the use of sterilization would save money. They believed that charity and welfare only treated the symptoms; eugenics sought to eliminate the disease. The following traits were seen as deteriorating to the gene pool to which the eugenicists were determined to eradicate: poverty, feeble-mindedness, …show more content…
(Brown, 1938) In more recent history, Governor Mike Easley signed a law in April 2003 that officially puts an end to forced sterilizations in North Carolina. Over 8,000 sterilizations were approved by the Eugenics Board of North Carolina. The total number of victims actually sterilized is estimated to have been over 7,600 (Winston-Salem, “Lifting the Curtain on a Shameful Era”). Of this number, females represented approx. 85% of those sterilized (State Library, “Statistics,” p. 1). By the late 1960s, the sterilization of men was virtually halted, as women made up 99% of those sterilized (Sinderbrand, p. 1). African Americans represent 39% of those sterilized overall; by the later 1960s, they made up 60% of those sterilized, even though they made up only a quarter of the population (Sinderbrand, p. 1). Of those sterilized up to 1963, 25% were considered mentally ill and 70% were considered mentally deficient. In each of these categories, females account for over 75% of the sterilizations. North Carolina ranked third in the United States for the total number of people …show more content…
Bev Perdue created the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation. The North Carolina General Assembly made funding available for the Foundation to plan and take on their mission to provide long awaited compensation to the victims who were sterilized compulsory by the State of North Carolina. The Foundation will function as a resource to help the survivors of the N.C. Eugenics Board program. The N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation is a group whose purpose is to provide information and assistance to all those affected. A task force created by the governor has considered providing compensation for victims (NC Justice for Victims Foundation). (http://www.sterilizationvictims.nc.gov/).While a task force recommended to set compensation for surviving and verified victims at the amount of $50,000, the state senate rejected such a proposal in the summer of 2012, and the foundation was faced with the prospect of shutting down due to a lack of money. As of October 2012, only about 170 victims who are still alive have been verified, out of an estimated total of approx. 1,500-2,000. The low number of victims who have revealed themselves in this way reflects the continuing stigma of being sterilized and parallels the situation in Germany, where for many decades victims were reluctant to come forward in part due to the stigma attached to sterilizations and the
Tasia D. Simon, BSW
MHA 5303 Health Law, Ethics and Policy
Winston Salem State University
December 2, 2015
Montrale D. Boykin, JD Abstract
Research Paper
There were many unfavorable events that happened in US history. One such event was eugenics. Eugenicists alleged genetics were the cause of problems for the human gene pool. Eugenicists had a theory that society already had paid enough to support these individuals and the use of sterilization would save money. They believed that charity and welfare only treated the symptoms; eugenics sought to eliminate the disease. The following traits were seen as deteriorating to the gene pool to which the eugenicists were determined to eradicate: poverty, feeble-mindedness, …show more content…
(Brown, 1938) In more recent history, Governor Mike Easley signed a law in April 2003 that officially puts an end to forced sterilizations in North Carolina. Over 8,000 sterilizations were approved by the Eugenics Board of North Carolina. The total number of victims actually sterilized is estimated to have been over 7,600 (Winston-Salem, “Lifting the Curtain on a Shameful Era”). Of this number, females represented approx. 85% of those sterilized (State Library, “Statistics,” p. 1). By the late 1960s, the sterilization of men was virtually halted, as women made up 99% of those sterilized (Sinderbrand, p. 1). African Americans represent 39% of those sterilized overall; by the later 1960s, they made up 60% of those sterilized, even though they made up only a quarter of the population (Sinderbrand, p. 1). Of those sterilized up to 1963, 25% were considered mentally ill and 70% were considered mentally deficient. In each of these categories, females account for over 75% of the sterilizations. North Carolina ranked third in the United States for the total number of people …show more content…
Bev Perdue created the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation. The North Carolina General Assembly made funding available for the Foundation to plan and take on their mission to provide long awaited compensation to the victims who were sterilized compulsory by the State of North Carolina. The Foundation will function as a resource to help the survivors of the N.C. Eugenics Board program. The N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation is a group whose purpose is to provide information and assistance to all those affected. A task force created by the governor has considered providing compensation for victims (NC Justice for Victims Foundation). (http://www.sterilizationvictims.nc.gov/).While a task force recommended to set compensation for surviving and verified victims at the amount of $50,000, the state senate rejected such a proposal in the summer of 2012, and the foundation was faced with the prospect of shutting down due to a lack of money. As of October 2012, only about 170 victims who are still alive have been verified, out of an estimated total of approx. 1,500-2,000. The low number of victims who have revealed themselves in this way reflects the continuing stigma of being sterilized and parallels the situation in Germany, where for many decades victims were reluctant to come forward in part due to the stigma attached to sterilizations and the