Charles Darwin Theory Of Eugenics

In order to truly understand the impact of eugenics on disability studies you must first analyze the movement and idea of eugenics. Eugenics was a dangerous combination of the evolution of biological thought and a new social philosophy (Stillwell, 2012). It was the belief that you could biologically test someone to ensure that their genetic code was strong and then marry them to someone who was equally as strong. Thus creating a sort of superior baby and eventually superior race. By doing this you are eliminating the “unfit” or “degenerate individuals” which many considered to be the disabled (Stillwell, 2012, p. 208). A perhaps better or more easily understood description comes from eugenicists themselves. They often described their crusades

7). In other words, in order to keep a perfect society, you must weed out the less desirables.

There were a few key players in the movement behind Eugenics. To understand where Eugenics came from you must first look at Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwin’s theory incorporated concepts that showed that heredity could be linked to possibly improving the human race (Fancher, 2009, p.84). The theory also touched on the idea of natural selection-where evolution would eventually weed out the weak (Dyck, 2014). The theory also went on to inspire the idea that those who survived were a stronger species, thus giving hope safeguarding the health and endurance of the strong human (Mostert, 2002). While Darwin himself did not seem to be involved in eugenics, his cousin, Francis Galton used Darwin’s writings as an influence. He seemed especially inspired by On the Origin of Species. He believed that this model cited by Darwin gave evidence

Countries looked at eugenics and saw it as an answer to their most serious problems. While a lot of the countries had the same idea-to utilize this movement for population control they did go after differing populations. The British focused on the impact of class differences. They looked to their slums as the problem. Canadians looked closely at those of a different race and lowers levels of intelligence, they associated these negatives to foreigners. The Swedish, Soviet, and German used race biology, or the idea of creating a ranking of people, as their platforms (Dyck, 2014, p.7). None took it as far as the Germans. The Germans developed the idea of “positive eugenics” they focused on class rather than race and became obsessed with the idea creating a superior race (Mostert, 2002, p.159). This obsession is what created the mass genocide that we have all come to know as the holocaust. When Hitler came into power those with disabilities became his target. In 1933 the Nazi regime passed a sterilization law, those with disabilities were especially vulnerable. They were segregated, isolated, forced into sterilization, and abortions (Mostert, 2002, p. 159). Eventually this turned to a malicious intent to eliminate those who were disabled from society. Propaganda was used to gain public opinion and eventually many deaths were carried as well as unwanted sterilizations (Mostert,