Quiet Eugenics: Sterilization in North Carolina's Institutions for the Mentally Retarded, 1945-1965

摘要: FOR A READER ACCUSTOMED TO THE CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE OF disability fights and to modern social welfare discourse, older professional writings about people with mental illness or retardation can be more than a little jarring. Consider, for instance, the following excerpt from 1957 case history of resident at Caswell Training School, in Kinston, North Carolina, state's first facility those diagnosed retardation: Robert was fifth sibling group eleven.... younger brother, James, has also been committed Caswell. Their oldest brother described as habitual drunkard.... He [Robert] came broken home his father serving term pententary [sic] assault deadly weapon. [the father] found guilty on incest charge[s] step daughters. The parents suffered asthma, were considered feeble-minded. infected venereal disease. (1) This reads much like eugenic family studies early twentieth century: it shares vague accounts relatives "considered feeble-minded" "said mentally retarded," along an emphasis large number children elaborations every possible negative trait extended family. (2) It is well documented that beliefs hereditary nature handicaps widespread United States during decades century, when ideology popular Germany elsewhere. Eugenicists typically tried link handicap any undesirable traits--anything criminality epileptic seizures--as evidence broader "unfitness"; they sought legal measures prevent reproduction deemed "unfit," most often through forced sterilization. Between 1910s 1930s twenty-nine states enacted put into practice laws permitting involuntary sterilization "feebleminded," ill, epileptic, sometimes criminal. (3) Yet Robert's does not date 1920s 1930s, height eugenics movement States. appears petition Carolina Eugenics Board requesting permission sterilize this resident. Board, established 1933, remained operative until 1970s. Even late 1980, court authorized woman mild retardation. (4) Clearly, effects persisted long after lost its public popularity World War II. previous have primarily examined how theories legislation accepted by medical political authorities before 1940. (5) process which mandates still carried out later remains explained. In elsewhere, lower level, operating within state bureaucracy inside institutions, continued implement policies enabling had forgotten legislatures. study perspective allows us see goal abstraction operations performed per year, but complex unfolding context beleaguered health system. By 1950s some degree southern phenomenon. However, region initially lagged behind rest nation embracing legislation. South 1935 Georgia 1937 last pass statutes; moreover, funding crises Great Depression meant that, these across South, very few actually 1930s. …