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Malcomson Eugenics Jun 08 PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE Applying Selected SRV Themes to the Eugenic Movement in Canada & the United States, 1890-1972 Thomas Malcomson Introduction for the identified social problems, from the inci- his article examines the eugenics move- dence of prostitution and drunkenness to the ap- ment in Canada and the United States, parent increase in people labelled ‘feebleminded.’ from its first appearance to the 1970s, as Into this milieu came the idea of eugenics. Tit relates to several of the ten themes in Social Role Valorization (SRV) theory.1 The present article can The Origin of Eugenics only provide a brief history of the eugenics move- rancis Galton coined the term eugen- ment in each country.2 First, however, is an even ics in 1883, from the Greek words “eu” briefer overview of the context in which eugenics meaning well and “genos” meaning birth. theory and practice made its appearance. FDeeply moved by The Origin of Species, written by The turn of the twentieth century found Cana- his cousin Charles Darwin, Galton set out to ap- da and the United States immersed in a period of ply the principle of evolution to humans, quickly great change and perceived turmoil.3 The popula- identifying superior from inferior races within the tions of both countries were growing primarily as species.5 The differences Galton noted ran largely a result of immigration. Rather than from Great along class lines, with the middle and some mem- Britain and Northern European countries, as in bers of the upper class being hereditarily supe- the past, both Canada and the United States drew rior to members of the lower class and those of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe the upper class who demonstrated characteristics and Asia. Viewed as significantly negatively differ- deemed to be degenerate. This division favoured ent, concerns over the immigrants’ potential cor- Galton and his supporters with the privileged ruption of North American society occupied the position of superiority over the ‘other.’ Eugenics pens of the press and others. At the same time the reflected the middle class values of late Victorian urban centers, fuelled by great industrial develop- Britain, which labelled the socially devalued char- ment, were growing at an alarming rate. Unbri- acteristics as ‘degenerate.’ The list of degenerate dled urban expansion and overcrowding brought characteristics included many possibilities, from with it an increase in crime and outbreaks of intellectual, mental or physical disability or insta- contagious disease. No clearer is the overcrowd- bility, to poverty, alcoholism, and/or any sexual ing demonstrated than in the work of Jacob A. behaviour deemed aberrant. Eugenicists believed Riis, who reported on and photographed the hor- that degenerate conditions were inherited and rid living conditions of New York City’s working would be passed on to future generations by af- class poor.4 Various reformers presented solutions flicted parents. June 2008 35 Galton developed several definitions for eugen- introduced into the national conscience, ics over the years. He first defined it as the science like a new religion.9 of improving the human stock, with the focus on providing the “most suitable races and strains of An Overview of the Eugenic Movements in blood” with every advantage to prevail over the Canada & the United States “less suitable.”6 In his collection of essays on eu- imilar programs of propaganda, to in- genics he defined it as “the science which deals doctrinate the professional and lay person with all influences that improve the inborn quali- to the necessity of eugenics, played a central ties of a race; also with those that develop them Srole in the growth of the eugenics movements in to the utmost advantage.”7 To obtain this end Canada and the United States. The idea of eugen- Galton encouraged the use of “positive eugenics” ics came to North America in the late 1880s as a which involved promoting an increased birth rate number of academics and physicians, influenced among those people with superior stock or blood. by Galton and other European writers on eugen- The alternative action was “negative eugenics,” ics, began to apply the concept to the citizens of which called for preventing procreation among their own countries.10 The North American eu- the people deemed to be of inferior stock or blood genicists used lectures, articles in both academic by various methods including institutionalization and the popular press, books, films and contests and sterilization. The impact of negative eugenics to advance their ideas of increasing the numbers on the labelled human is all too clear: devaluation of superior people, and removing and eliminating and subsequent multiple wounding of the person those judged inferior. The creation of national and through the experience of institutional life and/or provincial or state eugenic societies ensured a na- the experience and stigma of sterilization. tion wide channel for conveying eugenic ideas.11 Few British academics and professionals paid The eugenic societies provided a base from which attention to Galton’s ideas until 1900, when members could lobby government officials to en- the famous statistician Karl Pearson made it his act eugenic laws. As in Britain, the eugenic ideals life’s work to spread the eugenic gospel.8 Pearson of Canadian and American eugenicists were built brought Galton out of a self-imposed retirement on middle class values. to deliver public lectures on eugenics. In one lec- Wolfensberger has stated that as a theory So- ture, given to the British Sociological Society in cial Role Valorization (SRV) is open to creating 1904, Galton laid out the steps necessary to real- either positive or negative outcomes for people. A ize the goals of eugenics. Beyond continued re- negative application of the ten central themes in search into the hereditary transmission of traits, SRV would create groups of devalued and vulner- the exploration of the “conditions” of eugenics, able people.12 With this in mind, seven of the SRV and the study of marriage, he encouraged an ac- themes can help us understand how the various tive program to inform the public of eugenic methods employed by the Canadian and Ameri- ideas. Concerning the public education in eugen- can eugenic movements, to advance their ideas, ics effort, Galton said, promoted the acceptance and practice of eugenics. The seven themes are the role of unconsciousness, Firstly it must be made familiar as an aca- the dynamics and relevance of social imagery, the demic question, until its exact importance power of mind sets and expectancies, role expec- has been understood and accepted as fact; tancy and role circularity, personal competency Secondly it must be recognised as a subject enhancement and the developmental model, in- whose practical development deserves seri- terpersonal identification between valued and de- ous consideration; and Thirdly it must be valued people, and personal social integration and 36 The SRV JOURNAL valued social participation.13 and other progressive era reformers had created a Eugenicists produced a mountain of papers, ar- pro-involuntary sterilization movement across the ticles and books extolling the scientific grounds United States.18 Central to this movement was the of eugenics, the necessity to engage in it, and the concern over the social costs to society of support- types of humans most in need of the restrictions, ing the people declared ‘defective.’ segregation and administrations which eugenics en- The two leading national figures in the Ameri- tailed.14 Dr. John H. Kellogg, in an 1897 pamphlet, can eugenic movement were Charles Davenport assured his readers that the human race was “cer- and Harry Laughlin. Davenport headed the tainly going down physically toward race extinc- Station for Experimental Evolution at the Bio- tion.”15 The culprits he claimed were not only the logical Research Station at Cold Spring Harbor physically disabled, blind and deaf but the crimi- (1904-1939) and worked tirelessly at promoting nal, indigent and pauper. All owed their “deformi- the eugenic idea throughout the United States.19 ties” to hereditary factors, and were each unable to Davenport raised funds, trained eugenic field re- change their assigned lot in life. His solution was search workers and conducted research.20 Harry for individuals to eat properly, and develop good Laughlin, a former school principal, joined Dav- personal hygiene habits and morals. Kellogg pro- enport at the Cold Spring facility in 1910. To- moted positive eugenics by encouraging society gether they opened the Eugenic Record Office at to focus on the strengthening of the healthy indi- Cold Spring Harbor in 1929 to coordinate eugen- vidual, instead of attempting to help the defective ic research and the dissemination of eugenic in- person. Dr. H. C. Sharp, of the Indiana Reforma- formation. Their mission reflected the same goals tory, published an eleven page pamphlet advanc- as Galton’s call for informing the professional and ing the case for the sterilization of all degenerates.16 the public of the truth of eugenics. Laughlin fo- Sharp stated that more than half of all the people cused on sterilization and immigration legislation. with any form of mental or nervous defect were so Serving as advisor to the 1923 House Committee because of hereditary problems. He suggested ster- on Immigration that wrote the Immigration Act ilization as the most effective way to protect soci- of 1924, his eugenic ideas forged one of the most ety from the growing numbers of people unable to restrictive pieces of immigration legislation in the care for themselves and who posed a threat to the history of the United States.21 Laughlin’s venture safety of society. Marriage restrictions would be a into sterilization law is discussed below. second alternative, but Sharp lamented that mar- The family pedigree studies formed the central riage was not a naturally mandatory condition for evidence for the American eugenics movement.
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