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The Effects Of Eugenic Sterilization

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Eugenics Sterilization, developed by an eminent scientist, Francis Galton, is the science of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population by controlling breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristic traits and decrease the occurrence of undesirable characteristic traits or genetical defects (Bergman, 2000). Eugenic sterilization refers to the involuntary sterilization of certain categories of individuals without their need for consent by those subjected to the procedure (Pozgar, 2012, p. 411). Eugenic Sterilization has ruined thousands of lives and impacted individual in multiple ways.
Individuals classified as mentally deficient, feeble-minded, epileptic, promiscuous, sexual deviants, or persons classified as habitual criminals were mainly targeted (Pozgar, 2012, p. 411). Eugenicists argued degenerate traits tainted society through the reproduction of the lowest class and sterilization was to keep the “handicapped” from perpetuating themselves (Kaelber, 2014). In addition, eugenicists also argued that “feeble-minded” individuals were believed to be financial burdens to society by overcrowding prisons, hospitals and living off welfare (Kaelber, 2014). Eugenic Sterilization was seen as a way to prevent the spending of tax dollars on the “feeble- minded” (Kaelber, 2014). These arguments allowed Eugenics to become an acceptable practice. Advocates believed that getting rid of the “feeble-minded” and mentally deficient would decrease the undesirable characteristic traits within the human gene pool and ultimately improve the human population (Kaelber, 2014). The very first eugenic sterilization law was passed in 1919 but it was never put to use (Kaelber, 2014). Many worried that the law was unconstitutional and there the State feared putting it into practice (Kaelber, 2014). The landmark 1927 United States Supreme Court case of Buck Vs. Bell served as a catalyst for many eugenic sterilization programs across the Country (Scott, 2015). In 1929, The North Carolina General Assembly passed new sterilization laws (Kaelber, 2014). It stated that “the governing body or the responsible head of any penal or charitable institution supported wholly or in part by the State

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