Legalised non-consensual sterilisation – eugenics put into practice before 1945, and the aftermath. Part 1: USA, Japan, Canada and Mexico

Abstract

In the late 19th century, eugenics, a pseudo-scientific doctrine based on an erroneous interpretation of the laws of heredity, swept across the industrialised world. Academics and other influential figures who promoted it convinced political stakeholders to enact laws authorising the sterilisation of people seen as ‘social misfits’. The earliest sterilisation Act was enforced in Indiana, in 1907; most states in the USA followed suit and so did several countries, with dissimilar political regimes. The end of the Second World War saw the suspension of Nazi legislation in Germany, including that regulating coerced sterilisation. The year 1945 should have been the endpoint of these inhuman practices but, in the early post-war period, the existing sterilisation Acts were suspended solely in Germany and Austria. Only much later did certain countries concerned – not Japan so far – officially acknowledge the human rights violations committed, issue apologies and develop reparation schemes for the victims’ benefit.

Chinese abstract

在19世纪后期, 优生学, 一种基于对遗传规律错误解释的伪科学学说, 席卷了工业化世界。学术界和其他有影响力的人物促使它说服政治利益相关者颁布法律, 批准对被视为“不适应社会”的人进行绝育。最早的绝育法案于1907年在印第安纳州执行, 美国大多数州效仿, 几个政治制度不一样的国家也效仿。第二次世界大战结束时, 德国暂停纳粹立法, 包括监管强制绝育。1945年应该是这些不人道做法的终点, 但在战后初期, 现有的绝育法案仅在德国和奥地利被暂停。仅在很久以后, 某些相关国家-迄今为止不包括日本-正式承认侵犯人权的行为, 发表道歉言论, 并为受害者的利益制定赔偿计划。

Keywords:

• Canada
• eugenics
• forced
• Japan
• Mexico
• non-consensual
• sterilisation
• the USA

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.