The Ugly Truth Behind America’s Involuntary Eugenic Sterilization Programs

For decades, the United States has grappled with the legacy of involuntary eugenics, a practice that aimed to “improve” society by forcibly sterilizing individuals deemed unfit or undesirable. 

Despite the passage of time, these programs continue to resonate, with many survivors still seeking justice and recognition today.

Here’s the story of involuntary eugenics in America, which left a lasting impact particularly on people of color and those with disabilities.

What is the Dark History of Involuntary Eugenics in America?

The American eugenics movement, which originated in the late 1800s, was undeniably based in racism and nativism. It aimed to “breed out” undesirable traits by forcibly sterilizing poor women, disabled women, and women of color. 

The practice continued until as late as the 1970s. For instance, in California alone, around 20,000 sterilizations occurred in state mental institutions under the guise of protecting society from the offspring of people with mental illness (ref). 

The Supreme Court’s decision in Buck v. Bell (1927) even upheld the constitutionality of mandatory sterilization for inmates in mental institutions (ref).

Epilepsy & Feeble-Mindedness

The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded was a government-run residential hospital in Amherst County, Virginia that opened in 1910. 

It was part of the eugenics movement in the early 20th century. The facility, which is now called the Central Virginia Training Center, was founded to house people with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy.

It became a “dumping ground” for Virginia’s poorest residents, teenagers from broken homes, and those considered “socially inadequate” by state officials from the mid-1920s through the mid-1950s. Many of these people were vaguely labeled as “feebleminded” (ref).

The largest number of sterilizations were performed at the Lynchburg Colony, which housed white patients with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities. By 1979, an estimated 60,000 people had been sterilized against their will under similar laws in thirty states (ref).

Who were the Primary Targets of These Programs & Why

The primary targets of involuntary eugenics programs in America were often marginalized and vulnerable populations. 

These included:

• People with Disabilities: Eugenicists believed that certain disabilities were hereditary and sought to prevent their transmission by sterilizing individuals with disabilities.
• People of Color: Racist ideologies fueled eugenics, leading to the forced sterilization of Black, Indigenous, and other non-white individuals.
• Poor and Uneducated Women: Eugenicists targeted women from low-income backgrounds, assuming that poverty and lack of education were linked to undesirable traits.
• Immigrants: Immigrants were also considered a threat to the “purity” of the gene pool, leading to discriminatory practices.

The underlying rationale was to eliminate perceived “undesirable” traits from the population, but these programs caused immense harm and violated human rights.

Eugenics’ Contribution to Systemic Injustices & Social Inequality

The eugenics movement had a profound impact on systemic injustices and social inequality. 

Here are some key points:

Nazi Germany & Genocide

• The eugenics movement formed the basis for policies in Nazi Germany.
• The belief that certain “undesirable” traits were determined by genes led to genocide and the Holocaust.
• The Nazis implemented forced sterilizations and extermination programs based on eugenic principles.

Discriminatory Policies in the US

• During the 1960s and 1970s, discriminatory policies targeted Black people based on sickle cell disease (ref).
• Sickle cell disease does not solely affect people with African ancestry, yet eugenicists used it as a basis for discrimination.
• Multiple American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) leaders supported both voluntary and forced sterilizations of people deemed genetically “unfit.”

ASHG’s Apology & Acknowledgment

• The ASHG recently apologized for the participation of its former leaders in the American eugenics movement.
• While ASHG did not directly support eugenics, some of its early leaders held positions within the American Eugenics Society.
• The report titled “Facing Our History—Building an Equitable Future” details these connections and aims to prevent a resurgence of such injustices (ref). 

The forced sterilization of thousands of individuals, often without their knowledge or consent, has left a lasting scar on marginalized communities. However, this painful legacy also presents an opportunity for growth and change.

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