(no subject)
May. 16th, 2005 09:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theweaselkingAn American history of Eugenics: The involuntary sterilisation of blacks, poor people, and other "undesirables" in the USA.
From the early 1900s to the 1970s, some 65,000 men and women were sterilized in this country, many without their knowledge, as part of a government eugenics program to keep so-called undesirables from reproducing.
"The procedures that were done here were done to poor folks," said Steven Selden, professor at the University of Maryland. "They were thought to be poor because they had bad genes or bad inheritance, if you will. And so they would be the focus of the sterilization."
Elaine Riddick was raped and became pregnant at the age of 13. Social workers labeled her promiscuous and too feeble-minded to ever be a responsible parent. So, after giving birth in 1968, Riddick was sterilized without being told.
She learned the truth years later, when she married and tried to have more children.
Riddick went on to earn a college degree and raise the son she had at 14. He now is an engineering consultant.
From the early 1900s to the 1970s, some 65,000 men and women were sterilized in this country, many without their knowledge, as part of a government eugenics program to keep so-called undesirables from reproducing.
"The procedures that were done here were done to poor folks," said Steven Selden, professor at the University of Maryland. "They were thought to be poor because they had bad genes or bad inheritance, if you will. And so they would be the focus of the sterilization."
Elaine Riddick was raped and became pregnant at the age of 13. Social workers labeled her promiscuous and too feeble-minded to ever be a responsible parent. So, after giving birth in 1968, Riddick was sterilized without being told.
She learned the truth years later, when she married and tried to have more children.
Riddick went on to earn a college degree and raise the son she had at 14. He now is an engineering consultant.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-16 03:30 pm (UTC)It's part of their mandate to keep this stuff (large academic libraries are storehouses as well as resources for students and faculty), and I can even see why it would be a good idea (how many people know about the eugenics movement, or some of the incredibly nasty stuff for which it's responsible?), but it did give me pause when I saw those books.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-16 06:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-16 10:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-16 10:31 pm (UTC)They just sterilised her *because* she obviously couldn't keep her legs shut, and considered the matter closed.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-16 10:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-17 04:48 pm (UTC)