Taken from the Greek word eugenes meaning ‘good in stock’ the term ‘eugenics’ was coined in 1883 By Francis Galton (1822-1911). Today it is defined by the OED as ‘Pertaining or adapted to the production of fine offspring, esp. in the human race.’ We will attempt to explain what eugenics was within in the context of its time and how it was to be applied to humans. We will also attempt to identify who its supporters were and the many different reasons why the eugenic doctrine appealed to them.
Dorothy Wardell’s article titled “Margaret Sanger: Birth Control’s Successful Revolutionary” explains what inspired Sanger ideas on contraception and what problems she faced while working to change the notions and laws on Birth Control. The central argument presented by Wardell is that Sanger’s efforts led to privileges for women’s bodies and health centers providing methods for women to act on these privileges (Wardell, 736). Although Wardell is effective in supporting her argument, it would be stronger if she included some historical context and evidence of Sanger’s opinion in her own words found in a speech of hers and in Family Limitation.
Margaret Sanger was the founder of a small birth control center in Brooklyn. Back in the times of the clinic around 1916, women were not allowed to do the things they are allowed to do today, such as vote, control her reproduction and own property. That small center, through a series of fortunate events for Sanger, turned into what we now know today as Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. Planned Parenthood's mission it to keep keep being able to do the things she worked so hard to have to ability to do. According to plannedparenthood.org, they are currently “providing contraception and other health services to women and men, funding research on birth control and educating specialists and the public about the results, and advancing access to family planning in the United States and around the world” (Planned
Introduction - What is Eugenics?
Eugenics comes from the Greek roots for “good” and “origin,” and involves applying principles of genetics and heredity for the purpose of improving the human race. It is the selection of desired heritable characteristics in order to improve the future generations of humans. Eugenics is the philosophy and social movement that argues that it is possible to improve the human race and society by encouraging reproduction by people with desirable qualities and discouraging reproduction by people with “undesirable” traits.
Eugenics in America
Eugenics profoundly impacted the culture of the twentieth century. Coined in 1893 by Sir Francis Galton, it studied the heredity and selection of favorable traits. Born out of the social tumults of the late nineteenth century, it represented the Western elite’s attempt to protect itself from so called “inferior” cultures of the colonies and “new wave” immigration.
The late eighteenth century was a turbulent time throughout America. An influx of immigrants packed into massive cities such as New York and Chicago.
The roots of eugenics can be traced back to Britain in the early 1880’s when Sir Francis Galton generated the term from the Greek word for “well-born”. He defined eugenics as the science of improving stock, whether human or animal. According to the American Eugenics Movement, today’s study of eugenics has many similarities to studies done in the early 20th century. Back then, “Eugenics was, quite literally, an effort to breed better human beings – by encouraging the reproduction of people with "good" genes and discouraging those with "bad" genes.” (www.eugenicsarchive.org) According to Merriam-Webster, the modern day definition of eugenics is, a science that deals with the improvement (as by control of human mating) of hereditary qualities of a race or breed.
Having gone through the hardships that she did, Margaret Sanger developed her own theories and beliefs about health in women. Through the eyes of a child, Sanger watched her mother endure eighteen pregnancies, and acquire eleven children total, only to die at a fairly young age. Although the cause of the death was noted as Tuberculosis, Sanger was sure that the incessant pregnancies were what killed her mother. Also, while working as a nurse in the poorest neighborhoods of New York City, she saw women deprived of their health, sexuality and ability to care for children already born (Margaret 1). Sanger had reason to believe that action needed to be taken to improve health awareness for women Most likely, this was the reason she started to write articles such as “What Every Girl Should Know” and “The Woman Rebel” (Margaret 1). Her desire to support women was what started her l...
After creating the word “birth control,” in 1916, Margaret Sander began a rebellion in a Brooklyn storefront. Opening America’s first birth control clinic, Sanger establishing the foundation for what it is today known as Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Consequently, she was arrested for thirty days for violating the “Comstock Law,” which prohibits the conversation and distribute of birth control. What brought the attention of Planned Parenthood was the Supreme Court ruling that the constitutional right of seclusion expands to a woman’s choice, in discussion with her physician, to have an abortion. The issue of Planned Parenthood being defunded will affect everyone not just woman.
"After her release, Sanger reopened the clinic and was arrested again" (Oxford, 2011). The historical fact of Margaret Sanger's arrest supports the argument that there has always been opposition against reproductive clinics. Despite the backlash, Sanger continued her work as a pioneer in the field of women's rights and fought to continue her clinics. It broadened into the Planned Parenthood as it is known as today. “As of October 2016, Planned Parenthood turned 100 years strong” (Planned Parenthood, 2016). Planned Parenthood’s 100th celebration proves they are a well established institution serving a need that is not being addressed elsewhere. "Planned Parenthood’s affiliated clinics provided 10.6 million services for 2.7 million clients in 2013" (Ye Hee Lee, 2015). These statistics only support that Planned Parenthood provides several services to a large population dependent upon them. Therefore, it cannot simply be defunded and dismantled, as doing so would leave millions without access to affordable healthcare
1. How does the text circulate?
The material analyzed by Alexandra Minna Stern circulates in the form of a book titled “Eugenics Nation: Faults and Frontiers of Better Breeding in Modern America,” that was originally published in November 2007. The book is chronologically sequenced in order to provide the reader with detailed accounts of social eugenic practices throughout different periods in America History. In her book, Stern seeks to examine the connection between eugenics and the emergence of environmental movements in the state of California through the life of key figures such as Fairfield Osborn, Jordan Goethe, and John C. Merriam.