Eugenics or Forced Sterilization Programs

Heredity: Like begets like?

Eugenics or force sterilization programs were government policies that attempted to force people to undergo surgical sterilization, and also aim to assimilate any genetic deficiency (Keith 2011). The pseudo-science behind eugenics was based on a misconception of heredity that assumed that the deficient inevitably passed down their pathology to their progeny, and with this misconception, heredity became related to the crude term like begets like (Grekul 2008). This term was the foundation of what shaped the Eugenics movement into a dark and horrific period (McLaren 1990).

Introduction

The fight for the right to life is not the cause of a special few, but the cause of every man, woman and child who care not only about his or her own family, but the whole family of man (Dr. Mildred Jefferson). In sequence, through the history of consensual and non-consensual sterilization, ‘men’ have dehumanized and marginalized groups within society. Through the thought of heredity, genetics, and biology the creation of false propaganda like Mendalism, which in short was the idea of passage of deficiencies to child from the parents genes, was used to persuade Albertan society too not only accept the science of racial purity but to advocate it themselves (Wahlsten 1997). It was this misconception of other peoples ‘scientific’ ideals that helped those of higher status, contain power over those who were considered ‘mentally-deficient’ or ‘feeble minded’ (Grekul 2008).

How did it begin?

During the turn of the twentieth century, Canadian national identity was beginning to be questioned because of the social transformation (industrialization and urbanization). The root cause of this identity crisis was the issue of immigrati...

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...e Madame Justice Joanne B. Veit. Over a four week period, evidence of all the horrors and injustices that involved eugenics was brought to the public eye and Veit ruled in favor of Ms. Muir.

In Muir’s complicated relation with the movement of eugenics, she continues to raise awareness through conferences addressing the issue not only as an activist but a victim as well. Explicitly, Muir herself stated, “I'm a person who brought something that was so tragic in our black history … that brought it forward and hope it has helped thousands and thousands of people, and I'm going to keep on trying to help people.” In recognition, of her bravery and acknowledgement, since she launched her lawsuit and was brought some compensation for the atrocities that took place, more than 700 victims have come forth and joined Muir in exposing the truth of Canada’s dirty little secret.