Nazi eugenics

especially those who were vulnerable and less able to defend themselves. The use of scientific racism was ultimately a way to somehow legitimize these skewed European ideals, even if this meant positing faulty science as legitimate science. The German eugenics movement and its ideals were ultimately inspired by what the Americans were doing to its people, as they shared the same goal to attain an Arian race. As also discussed in class, people took the ideas of Charles Darwin and problematically…

The term “eugenics” which means “good birth” was coined by English scientist Sir Francis Galton, and referred to the science of genetic and heredity with the main goal of creating superior human race, one without the problems caused by inferior people (Grinspoon, 2013). Eugenicist focus on encouraging healthy and fit people to procreate and prevent those that are deem unfit for society. The forefront of the Eugenic movement focused on inherited mental degeneration that is passed down from…

The science of eugenics began in the twentieth century by the Franci Galton who coined the idea that favorable characteristics in humans were hereditary. These desirable traits were seen to be prominent in the superior classes thus, sterilizing women of inferior traits to prevent her from spoiling the chances of the master race. This master race consisted of those with high intelligence, fair skin tones, desirable physical characteristics, and not a descendent of a minority background. This form…

The impact of heredity and environment is indeed undeniable and the two are significantly intertwined. The development of the emotional characteristics depends on the influence of the environment, but the physical genetic manifestations such as color of skin, eye color, height, etc. are maintained. The emotional characteristics for the most determine the shaping of the individuals’ disposition and character. As expressed by Collins et al., “Estimating the effects of heredity versus…

Nature versus Nurture has been one of the major controversies in all of time. Whether inherited genes or environmental influences can affect one’s personality, behavior, development intelligence, and ability. While nature is mainly characterized by physical attributes inherited from generation to generation, nurture is mainly in control of a person’s character and manner. Either Adam, the monster, could have been born with his savage ways or he could have acquired these ways from society. Nature…

The nature versus nurture debate is one that dates back to 1869, which is when the phrase “nature versus nurture” was first conceived by Francis Galton, an English Polymath. This debate speculates whether nature or nurture has the most effect on human beings when it comes to areas such as homosexuality, intelligence, and criminal behavior. Today, most people settle on one side of this eternal debate, and do so with proper explanations and evidence as to why their position is the correct position…

In the summer of 1978, ten women of Mexican origin sued Doctor James Quilligan and the Los Angeles County Hospital for a violation of their civil and constitutional rights by forcible sterilization. These women claimed that they were either coerced into signing the sterilization consent forms, signed them under duress, could not read the English consent forms, or were not given any consent forms at all. Representatives Antonia Hernandez and Charles Nabarrete argued that the plaintiffs were…

The epigraph above opens the introduction to the 1926 study, Mongrel Virginians: The WIN Tribe. Sponsored by the Eugenics Record Office (ERO) and the Carnegie Foundation, Mongrel Virginians investigated the moral and social character of the Amherst County Indians. Arthur Estabrook, alongside co-author and sociologist Ivan McDougle, used family pedigrees and sociological investigation to determine the genetic and moral make-up of the group they called the “WIN” tribe, a pseudonym meant to signify…

Eugenics In America In 1993, A March of Dimes poll found that 11% of parents in America said they would abort a fetus who was predisposed to obesity. 4 out of 5 said they would abort a fetus who would have a disability, and 43% said they would use genetic modification if available to them for appearance enhancement (Laney). From the 1900’s to even today, the Eugenics movement was one of the most controversial movements in the United States. Eugenics is the study of or belief that by selective…

The eugenics movement was time period that was intended to improve the genetic structure of humans. Eugenicists encouraged the selective breeding of the most “fit” humans to reach a perfect human race. Francis Galton established the philosophy of the eugenics movement in the 1880’s. Eugenicists used “scientific research” to trick people into thinking that what they were saying was true, even though the research was fake. Many wealthy, white Americans and Europeans supported the movement because…