This week I would like you to research a topic from the following list and then tell us all something about what you found, what you thought about it and what other sources or points of view there are. So, you can start with the resources I've listed here and then branch out and report back to us- being sure to post a link or reference information so we could look at it as well.
The point of this week's discussion is to remember/learn about parts of history that are not always taught or talked about in contemporary media/political/personal conversations. Many of you may be familiar with the phrase "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
The U.S. Eugenics Movement:
http://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/eugenics/2-origins.cfm
http://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/eugenics/
http://campus.udayton.edu/~hume/Eugenics/eugenics.htm
Forced Sterilization of women and men who were not white, or were considered unfit because of mental, emotional issues or criminal behavior:
http://faculty.utep.edu/LinkClick.aspx?link=lawrence.pdf&tabid=19869&mid=71730
http://www.umw.edu/hisa/resources/Student%20Projects/Cincinnati/students.umw.edu/_ncinc5ce/choiceandalternatives.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/dianm/Sterilization.pdf
The Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project website:
http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/
Racial Microaggressions in Everday Life:
http://www.olc.edu/~jolson/socialwork/OnlineLibrary/microaggression%20article.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX7Xp_6vHMc
Watch the video of the presentation.
http://www.iwri.org/news/
Once again, part of a college/university education and our societal acceptance of the ideas of honoring and accepting diversity and being multiculturally aware is being exposed to different points of view. These are just some things I would like you to think about and consider, we may have made a lot of progress on issues of racism, yet the work is not done. Even if you believe that you are not racist, I continue to ask you to consider the "legacies of racism" and how the issues/historical events listed above could still be challenges for individuals, insitutions and communities.
The point of this week's discussion is to remember/learn about parts of history that are not always taught or talked about in contemporary media/political/personal conversations. Many of you may be familiar with the phrase "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
The U.S. Eugenics Movement:
http://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/eugenics/2-origins.cfm
http://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/eugenics/
http://campus.udayton.edu/~hume/Eugenics/eugenics.htm
Forced Sterilization of women and men who were not white, or were considered unfit because of mental, emotional issues or criminal behavior:
http://faculty.utep.edu/LinkClick.aspx?link=lawrence.pdf&tabid=19869&mid=71730
http://www.umw.edu/hisa/resources/Student%20Projects/Cincinnati/students.umw.edu/_ncinc5ce/choiceandalternatives.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/dianm/Sterilization.pdf
The Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project website:
http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/
Racial Microaggressions in Everday Life:
http://www.olc.edu/~jolson/socialwork/OnlineLibrary/microaggression%20article.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX7Xp_6vHMc
Historical Trauma, Microaggressions, and Identity: A Framework for Culturally-Based Practice
Dr. Karina Walters speaks at the University of Minnesota on Race, Culture and Children’s Mental Health.Watch the video of the presentation.
http://www.iwri.org/news/
Once again, part of a college/university education and our societal acceptance of the ideas of honoring and accepting diversity and being multiculturally aware is being exposed to different points of view. These are just some things I would like you to think about and consider, we may have made a lot of progress on issues of racism, yet the work is not done. Even if you believe that you are not racist, I continue to ask you to consider the "legacies of racism" and how the issues/historical events listed above could still be challenges for individuals, insitutions and communities.
I didn’t know what eugenics was, so I decided to do a little bit of research on that topic. Eugenics is basically the study of how to improve the human race by selective breeding and isolation of ‘desired’ traits. I was honestly surprised – Eugenics: Three generations, no imbeciles. Seriously?! Turns out eugenics is a pretty controversial topic (duh…), and most people don’t even want it to be considered a science. Society pretty much just deems it as extreme racism now, which is understandable.
ReplyDeleteEugenics led to this genius named Laughlin to declare that the ‘socially inadequate’ of society should be sterilized, even against their will. As if things couldn’t get more outrageous – Virginia actually passed a law called the Eugenical Sterilization Act that made sterilizations legal in their fine state. But wait there’s more! Eugenics grew in popularity after the First World War, and in the 20s, the American Eugenics Society was founded and spread throughout the U.S. At local fairs, eugenicists would host friendly ‘better baby’ competitions and give the ‘prize’ babies blue ribbons. The website says, “Not only did eugenicists promote better breeding, they wanted to prevent poor breeding or the risk of it. That meant keeping people with undesirable traits in their heritage separate from others, or…preventing them from reproducing” (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dh23eu.html). What a load of…nonsense.
Anyway, I explored around a bit more on the internet, and found a site that pleasantly explains, “humanitarian eugenics strives to leave a genuine legacy of love to future generations: good health, high intelligence, and noble character” (http://www.eugenics.net). Sounds great, right? My favorite part of that ridiculous website was the disclaimer: Please be forewarned that most ideas expressed on this website are “politically incorrect.” I can’t believe people still buy into the outdated German belief in the Aryan race – but that’s just me. I would love to have a conversation with someone who is pro-eugenics.
Dictionary.com describes eugenics as “the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, especially by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits(negative eugenics)or encouraging reproduction by person to have inheritable desirable traits(positive eugenics). “ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eugenics the article i read on U.S. Eugenics Movement talked about the Virginia Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded. This colony was originally intended for the mentally retarded, epileptic and severely disabled, but became a place for those not fit for society. By segregating the “unfit” you also keep the “normal” people separate. Keeping people separate sort of promotes marrying within the family, which was popular in earlier times due to the large amount of people needed to work the land. By marrying within the family, this promotes inbreeding, which has a high chance of causing birth defects and other problems. As the OP (original poster) said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But those who cannot put the past behind them will be unable to proceed. Being filled with hatred and spite for things done to your own kind will not bring the world forward into one of peace. We must learn about problems that have faced us in the past, but learn from them. We need to stop using words like them and us. We need to learn about all cultures, religions, etc. I think learning about the past is great, but we must also plan for the future.
ReplyDeleteAArrgghh!!! I also had the long post disappear into electronic oblivion.....I was waffling on quite a bit anyways, so this just shortened it.
ReplyDelete@Hannah: Did you see a link about how eugenics has morphed or been repackaged to sound more acceptable? In some aspects DNA or genetic testing of babies in the womb can be seen as part of the continuing legacy of eugenics- although I understand with families and/or concerns about certain diseases/conditions these tests have a different meaning. The idea that in the future couples will be able to have "designer babies" that they can pick the genetic traits of their off-spring is another.
@Rumor- I think many people would like to move forward, yet they need more of us to see that so much of this history and the legacies of racism continue today and are not something people are holding onto from the past. For example, if many of us ackowledge that we know very little about current issues facing Native Americans, how can we ask them to join us in planning our future? We need to least try and get on some similar historical and current pages before we can bring peace.
I found a few that tried to defend eugenics, http://www.faqs.org/childhood/Co-Fa/Eugenics.html was an interesting one. But honestly, most of what I read was either neutral or firmly against eugenics as a practice.
ReplyDeleteNow, I understand families wanting to test babies in the womb, but at the same time I feel like you would be setting yourself up for heartbreak. If you found out that your child had some sort of condition, you would be forced to make a choice - either abort the baby, or go full term and have the baby, knowing that it will not be normally developed. As for the designer baby idea, that gets me all sorts of upset. Why would you not just adopt?
The GAO investigators examined IHS records and found that the IHS
ReplyDeleteperformed 3,406 sterilizations during the fiscal years 1973 through 1976.
UM hello!!! This is almost making me sick reading about sterilizing young women.
And this isn’t just for women that want this procedure done. Some young women, thinking they were getting surgery for something else, also got sterilized. As young as the age of 15! Now let this be known, that it was not just native American women getting their womanhood ripped out of them but African American and Hispanic women as well. This is because most of the Doctors doing this procedure were white males who believed they were helping society out by limiting babies that would be born in to low class poverty stricken homes! As if(yes, stolen right form clueless) Shouldn’t motherhood be a choice? You are taking away a woman’s choice to raise a family before she even can ponder if it’s something she wants!
Here are some fun facts. put to terrible heavy metal music. interesting though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlcpZqVf8KY
Its hard to know this was happening just 40 years ago. And I'm sure it is still happening today. Does anyone know of any present sterilizing? In what country does this take place? Maybe we can look at their history and see if it has any similarities to ours. Or reasons why they would do this? (I personally, still can't find a reason)
I was goign to do the topic of selective sterilization but after reading your posts i think i want to do the one about cloning the perfect child.
ReplyDelete@Beergirl24: I did a little dinking around and found this website which voices Latina's concerns of forced sterilization today, mostly in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and a few other countries.
ReplyDeleteI read up on eugenics and sterilization as well, and was shocked by it. It's strange and horrid that America was performing these forced sterilizations at the exact same time that she was outraged at the Nazis for doing the same exact thing. The de-humanizing aspect of this issue is really outraging and saddening. How anyone could think this is okay is beyond me.
I don't want to start a debate on here, but as I was reading up on this I was struck by the similarities between forced sterilization and abortion. Both deprive a human being of a right they should have had, both are in the name of bettering society, and both either are or were considered socially acceptable. This is just something I thought was interesting.
This was a helpful website, and also addresses the issue of forced sterilization today and what countries it is most prevalent in. Peru seems to be the worst offender in the present day.
Like Hannah, I had no idea what eugenics was. Plus before my research, I did not know about sterilization either (I know, I know, call me ignorant). According to dictionary.com, eugenics is basically selective breeding while female sterilization (based off of selective breeding) is cutting out or sealing the woman’s fallopian tubes. So there is my proof of knowing what they are after looking it up. :)
ReplyDeleteSterilization should NEVER be involuntary, for any person no matter what race they were or are. That’s horrible what doctors did to minorities without their consent. It should always be a person’s choice if they want to go through the sterilization procedure or not. What was really interesting was to read the page “Choice and Alternatives,” and see how the German Nazis modeled their sterilization laws after us and took it to a whole new level (over 300,000 Germans were sterilized). I know how Native American reservations inspired Nazi concentration camps, and how Hitler modeled his hatred after our hatred for Native Americans and slaves. But it is really upsetting to find out on another horrible idea the Nazis took from us. Hopefully, this issue will never have to repeat itself in the future.
After looking around on the web, I found another further reading of eugenics at this site:
http://www.commondreams.org/views/072100-106.htm
http://faculty.washington.edu/dianm/Sterilization.pdf
ReplyDeleteTo start off, I can't believe there are people in this world who would/could sterilize someone without their consent. No one has the right to perform such a task without the persons knowledge and acceptance.
This article states that in the 60's and 70's, 25% of young Indian females were sterilized without consent or knowledge.
This is wrong on many levels so of course it became illegal to preform without consent.
They provided the Indian women with better family planning centers and educated them on different forms of birth control.
Also, I find it extremely interesting how the Indian women used natural ways to prevent getting pregnant. It is way healthier than the medical ways we have. The birth control really messes with the hormones.
It is sad to think that all these women who had the sterilization can never go back... D:
The concept of forced sterilization really bothered me and so I chose to research more on the topic. I started off with (http://faculty.utep.edu/LinkClick.aspx?link=lawrence.pdf&tabid=19869&mid=71730) and found out some very strange facts. Women were being lied to left and right when it came to medical procedures. Some of them went into a hospital to have appendectomies and, without their knowledge, received a form of sterilization as well. Another woman was told that the hysterectomy she received could be reversible and was under the impression that she could still have children in the future. I also learned that in 1955, the legislation marked the health of Native Americans as a lower priority to that of white people.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this is just morally wrong in so many levels. If someone took away my ability to have children without my permission, I would be pissed beyond belief. Especially when this is targeted toward a certain race, it could almost be considered a form of genocide. It should never be okay to prevent births of children just because their parents happen to be a certain color. I could maybe understand if this were to happen to people of all races who are drug addicts and will birth innocent children that are already addicted to a hard drug without even doing anything. That is understandable because those types of people cause harm toward their children. But there is nothing harmful by being the a certain race. Can being white cause harm to a child? No. So why would being anything else?
I then looked on the website (http://www.ratical.org/ratville/sterilize.html) and found out that within half a decade, “Indian Health Service doctors were sterilizing so many reservation women that one Native American woman was being sterilized for every seven babies born.” Also, the infant mortality rate of Indian reservations was three times that of the general population in the Unites states. At the end of the article it says that “The number of births to Indian women had risen to 45,871 in 1988, compared with 27,542 in 1975”. I am glad that this forced sterilization has been stopped and that Native Americans are receiving proper medical treatment.
At first I didn’t know what eugenics’ meaning, but after I checked the dictionary and explored online about it, I felt terrified about this movement. And I still can’t believe this. I don’t know why some people were say “yes” to it, however, I think that was an unfair movement to those innocent people. To some degrees, this movement was against nature because it is our natural right to have next generations. While I was exploring about eugenics movement, I found it did not just exist in the United States, but also countries such Germany, Australia and Canada, etc. I went thought those websites from the blog, and I also got enough more senses about this movement. This movement wanted to “improve” human race by sterilizing women and men who were not white, who were poor and who has mental issues. Many of Native Americans sterilized when they were young, and they did not have any chance to have babies any more. This is so crucial to them. I think this movement was unethical, and it betrayed the nature. Well, this movement also reminds me one of the most argumentative topics in the world: clone. As we all know, many scientists want to try to clone human. I am the one don’t agree to do that because I think it unethical. Back to eugenics, I believe some innocent people still be sterilized nowadays, and it is just hard for me to believe our human has this kind for history.
ReplyDeleteI didnt know much about any of the topics so i read all the comments and i decided i was most interested in eugenics as well. to me it almost sounds like forced evololution, for example in the past, giraffes had a combination of both long and short necks but unfortunately the leaves they ate only grew at the top of tall trees, leaving only the long necked giraffes properly nourished, therefore surviving while the short neck giraffes started dying. its basically survival of the fittest and i think its wrong to apply this concept to the human race.
ReplyDeletemy little sister had down syndrome and for someone to say that it would be wrong for her to have children and bring someone else into the world that may also have a disability breaks my heart. in my opinion a child is a child no matter what.
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ReplyDeleteMicroaggression is not always meant but happens often. For instance, I've done it for example, when I was little I asked grandma, " Grandma when did you learn english." had this been someone whom, heard that question asked alot and enlish was their 2nd, or 3rd laungage it would be nerving and eventually take its toll. Another example from the lecure of Dr. Hsiao-Wen Lo,
ReplyDeleteAn indigenous and a white woman talking...
Indigenous person: White woman: why are you offended (judgemental) I was really offended this moring when I opened my email, I got a message from Barnes & Noble saying "Columbus dicovered America and you dicovered Barnes and Noble coupons!"
Indigenous person: As a Cherokee, I find it offensive when people say " Columbus discoverded America." White woman: Oh, you're Native American. I had no I idea!
Indigenous person: I perfer the term indigenous peorson. I don't identify with "American."
White woman: What do you mean you're not American? You were born here, right?Indigenous person: Yes.
White woman: Well then, you're American. Or at least I think you're.
(a better reaction, this time well call the idividual a ally)
Indigenous person:I was really offended this moring when I opened my email, I got a message from Barnes & Noble saying "Columbus dicovered America and you dicovered Barnes and Noble coupons!"
Ally: why are you offended?(curious)
Indigenous person: As a Cherokee, I find it offensive when people say "Columbus discoverd America."
Ally: Oh, your Native American. I had no idea!
Indigenous person: I perfer the term indigenous person. I don't identify as "American."
Ally: Oh. thank you for correcting me. Can you tell me more how come you don't identify as "American" and why its offensive to say "Columbus discovered America?"
I leaned about microaggression in the video in class by Dr. Katria Walters and the lecure with Dr. Hsiao-Wen Lo last Wednesday. And what I learned was its impotant to listen to people rather than deny them of their feeling or experiences. To validate their experience, before premature rationaliztion. Everbody will encounter issues mistakes at first, but its important to apologize and / or express gratitude. I know it must be hard for american caucasians when the "founding father's" have done so much hurt to the indigenious peoples, but its time to pick ourselves up and be aware of the opression thats put on people unknowingly...I say this for myself too, I'm also convicted on the concept and reality of mircoaggression.
Microaggressions aren’t just the use of insults in disguise of a complement but they are also in the gestures/actions and behaviors we make. I have seen the use of gestures and actions such as shutting people out or ignoring them, but I thought that was just people being rude. I had no idea that shutting someone out would be classified as a microaggression. Microaggressions go hand in hand with blind racism because it’s done on the sub conscious level of the individual and they most likely have no idea that they are using microaggressions or blind racism against individuals usually of a minority group. From the video the 5 steps for getting rid of the microaggressions:
ReplyDelete1. Constant vigilance- of own biases and fears.
2. Experiential reality- interacting with people of other groups.
3. Don’t be defensive
4. Be open to discussion- your own attitude and how they might affect others.
5. “Be an Ally”- stand personally against discrimination.
These steps yes can help an individual, who has realized that they are committing microaggressions, but there are those who will remain prejudice and it’s up to us to help them realize that their actions, gestures and words are not appropriate in society.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX7Xp_6vHMc
Wow you think I would learn to type in a word document after reading about people’s posts disappearing…I guess not
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to the guest speakers today, I wanted to learn more about Native American healthcare. I read about the Indian Health Care Services and the Sterilization of Indian Women. I learned about three women and was shocked to hear their stories. These women had been sterilized due to their behavior without even knowing it. These women and their parents had given no consent for this procedure. I can’t not imagine wanted to start a family and then hearing from a doctor that I can’t because I had been sterilized without any knowledge of it. This blows my mind.
I did however find some information that showed that some Native American women agreed to sterilization because they were threatened with the “loss of their children and/or their welfare benefits, that most of them gave their consent when they were heavily sedated” (pg 13-14).
I also read about some statistics regarding healthcare and how many Native Americans are covered. I don’t want to just re-write the article in my comment but if any of you are interested in those they are listed on page 4 of this link. http://faculty.utep.edu/LinkClick.aspx?link=lawrence.pdf&tabid=19869&mid=71730. It’s really quite interesting how low the medical personal is compared to Native American patients.
Before having this class I did have some stereotypes about Native American health care. Learning more about their healthcare from both Melissa and our guest speakers have really changed my perspective on this topic. It has made me want to expand my knowledge about Native American health care. Hopefully more people will become better educated when it comes to Native American studies.
Racial microaggressions are explained as brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.
ReplyDeleteThere are basically three types of microaggressions:
1. Microassault is an explicit racial derogation characterized primarily by a verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior, or purposeful discriminatory actions.
2. Microinsult is characterized by communications that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity.
3. Microinvalidations are characterized by communications that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person of color.
In our daily life, we may meet a lot of aggressions, but most of us may not recognize them. One example is that “Where are you from?”, this sentences passes a message as you are not American or you are a foreigner. Another example is “you are so articulate”, it passes a message as it is unusual for someone of your race to be intelligent.
Actually, I do not agree with some examples, I think most people ask“where are you from?”without a microaggression. I don’t understand how this become a microaggression.
About a year ago, I saw a microaggression happened. One relative of my wanted to rent her house, there was an African American came to see the house. After the guy left, my relative said that she felt unsafe to rent her house to him. She said she was afraid of him. It seems that in her mind, the African Americans stand for crimes. I felt very uncomfortable about her thoughts.
Jingnan, that's a very good example or some of the incorrect ways we let society educate us soulds like that example is a sterotype too, I think the media it part blame for that. I have an example of my own microaggression. My mother-in-law works at a grocery store, in the deli. She was telling me that the people she works with don't treat he fair, because she's Korean. I couldn't believe that people would treat her as bad as she said...So, I said ,no they woulden't do that. Well, I should have been more supportive allie by listening, Inquiring, acknowleging and validating.
ReplyDeleteSo even though it looks like the discussion moved onto microaggression, I decided eugenics sounded the most interesting to me. Despite having had no idea what Eugenics was up until this point, I'll just say it came to a huge shock to me-in a bad way- after finding out. After doing a little research, I found a definition in which sums it up pretty clearly, “the pseudoscientific belief of improving the human race through selective breeding.” I couldn't believe there were actually people out there who thought they had the right to say certain social statuses/groups were “unfit” for society. I think the founders of this almost “science” were huge hypocrites. After all, who are they to criticize people with “problems” when they themselves are just as prone to those same issues!? For example, take one the greatest eugenics crusaders, Harry Laughlin, who fought to sterilize the feeble minded and people diagnosed with epilepsy. He was famously known for believing people with epilepsy should not belong to society. ...however, Laughlin was also known by his colleagues for having periodic seizures. It turns out that this doctor and attacker of the “unfit” had been keeping a tight secret for the duration of his life span, because he himself had been a victim of epilepsy! I thought that was pretty outrageous, I mean, talk about the definition of hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteAnd adding on this list of what is considered unfit, I thought it was especially disgusting to learn that in 1911, the American Breeders Association, an organization comprised of eugenic-minded scientists and doctors, assembled together to actually label ten groups they looked upon as “socially unfit” and deserving of elimination. The source says they were listed in order of priority: “the feebleminded, the pauper class, alcoholics, criminals of varying degrees such as petty thieves and those imprisoned for not paying fines, epileptics, the insane, the constitutionally weak class, those genetically predisposed to specific diseases, the deformed, and finally, the deaf, blind and mute.” And to think that people actually approved of this is beyond me. None of this to me lines up with the principles of our Constitution and I can guarantee our founding fathers would not agree with the values and mindsets of the eugenics. All and all, I think the only good thing that came out of this period was a better understanding of heredity because back then scientists and doctors were very unfamiliar with the idea of passing down traits to family members.
I think the example you gave regarding the giraffes was a great connection to eugenics. It's true this idea of being better shouldn't be your card to survival and reproduction. Sure there are people who were born with illness and dysfunctions, but that in no way should imply that the human race is of unequal members. I too have a sibling with down syndrome and find it absolutely inhuman even the idea of labeling my brother as “unfit” from society. I feel like these people who came up with this idea of eliminating certain minorities were heartless plus they probably had no emotional or personal attachment with people they considered unexceptionable. Because I know for a fact, if one of these eugenics met my sweet little brother and after wards STILL thought his “kind” should be eliminated, then they really truly must be heartless.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I have no idea what "eugenics" is. I searched the word on dictionary.reference.com/browse/eugenics and I found the definition of it. The word eugenics is defined as the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, especially by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics). In my opinion, from the positive aspect, eugenics helps humans improve the qualities. Parents will get more healthier children. However, from the negative aspect. Eugenics doesn't obey the nature rules. Although our humans live on the earth as the most brilliant and intelligent species, no one gives us rights to change the rules of the nature. We cannot control the earth quake happens; we cannot prevent the tsunami; we cannot create new genes for ourselves and let us have flying ability like birds. The movement has been mentioned in the article is negative eugenics. Whatever any race, skin color, facial expression, body shape is, if it exists, it's logical and correct. Everyone has the basic human rights to survive and live in his or her own way. We need sciences and new technical knowledge to improve our lives. However, it should focus on how to protect our environment; how to give everyone medical care if he or she gets sick, etc.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading posts from other students and the links you had provided I decided (just like everyone else) to read up on eugenics. As I read more about it I began to grow more and more disgusted with the idea and frustrated with it. It is as though they want to play God and create the “perfect” person. I believe that we can’t define what a perfect person is that everyone agrees on, (but if you’re like me, the only person I would define as perfect is Jesus) so there would be much debate one what is perfect and what isn’t. As if there isn’t already enough debate on this topic anyways?! I think trying to create a child as if it were a new house a homebuyer would be creating, it takes away the surprise, the life, the joy, the excitement of a new, unique life. If we are to ‘create’ what we want our child to be like, this society would be more robotic and frankly boring with no creativity. There would be more abortions due to the fact that someone’s child may not turn out how they want it to be. Frankly, I don’t like the idea of eugenics one bit.
ReplyDelete@Jingnan
ReplyDeleteI like your last example of microaggression. Actually, it's unfair to judge a person by his or her race or skin color. However, it exists in the world somewhere. People sometimes connect two separate things together, and make new conclusions. For example, like you said your relative felt bad and she was afraid of seeing an African American coming by your house and ask for the details about house renting. We are imperfect because we are humans.
Like Megan had recently posted, many of us have been drawn to the topic of a perfect child, but I see it slightly differently. If most people had access to do this there would be a new way of differentiating someone from the pack. In some ways it would get rid of racism but I fear that would only be replaced by a want of people to surround themselves with 'perfect people' instead of 'all natural' people. I can see the benefits though, getting rid of disease, ensuring that your child would have the best possible foot forward baring any unforseen event of nature. However I will make the stand that the world isn't and probably won't be anytime soon for such a thing or process to exist.
ReplyDeleteSince I didn’t know what eugenics was, I decided to do some research about it. To some it all up eugenics is the study of how to improve the human race by selective breeding and selecting certain traits to make the perfect human. They believe that anyone who does not have these certain traits is less desirable. I found out that at the end of the 19th century when eugenics societies were created they believed that “"Negative eugenics" initiatives included marriage restriction, sterilization, or custodial commitment of those thought to have unwanted characteristics.” (http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/publications/scopenotes/sn28.htm) Eugenics is extreme racism in a nutshell with some scientific aspects to it. I honestly can’t believe that people would even think like this. This is definitely racism to the next level.
ReplyDeleteYinping Han,
ReplyDeleteI guess these people how say yes to eugenics because they want to be different, they want to be powerful. Considering themselves as better race makes them feel powerful. I think eugenics give them satisfaction. People have different desires, some want to be rich, some want to be famous. These people want others to respect them; however, they use extreme ways to achieve it. Eugenics does give them a way. I believe some of these people are self-abased, they use eugenics to cover the inside weakness.
the topic of positive eugenics was brought up and i hadnt thought about that side of it before. obviously negative eugenics is wrong but to me it really sounds like positive eugenics isnt much different. purebread dogs or racing horses are a great example of of positive eugenics, for example if someone has a horse that is really fast and another horse that is really fast most breeders will breed them to get hopefully an even faster baby horse, i feel like it seems like its okay but if you think about it it is still forced repoduction. i really dont know anything about breeding but it seems like a good example of "positive" eugenics.
ReplyDeleteAng Li,
ReplyDeleteI think the media may be response for some of our behaviors. When I was taking “ETHICS & SOCIAL PROBLEMS”, there was a video played during the class, it emphasized that when we turned on our TVs, we always see crime news about African Americans. The information lead us to believe African Americans equal to crimes and dangers.
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteIt feels bad after reading your step-mother story. It reminds me the video about microaggression, a group of people is having meeting, when the only female talks, everybody ignores her. It is really embarrassing in such a situation. Sometimes the argument between people is bad, but the ignoring is much harmful.
I want to know more about The Seattle Civil Rights. Seattle was a segregated city and it caused the Civil Rights. At that time People of color were excluded from most jobs, most neighborhoods and schools, and many stores, restaurants, hotels, and other commercial establishments, even hospitals. This problem did not be solved in a long time. In addition, As in other western states, the system of severe racial discrimination in Seattle targeted not just African Americans but also Native Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, people of Mexican ancestry, and also, at times, Jews. So the different groups consisted of these people.
ReplyDeleteFrom the information, I also know the history of farm labor organizing. It starts with the first labor force, a mix of Native Puget Sound people, white men, and Chinese men, who in the 1870s harvested the state's first cash crop: hops. Another campaign began in the 1930s and a Filipino-led union was at times successful.
Social enforcement was also a big problem. Social enforcement had always been as important as legal enforcement by the courts in upholding racial restrictions.
After reading these information, I know more about The Seattle Civil Rights.
I always see one important point to do this stuff: Power!, People in the world always want to feel like the king of the world, but theres a problem in one group, make others feel less, so they can be the best!
ReplyDeletei guess also some of the people accept or do things that they dont want like this because they need money or false promises, waiting for a better future.
I read about the White supremacy and the alien land laws of Washington State. This article, by Nicole Grant, focuses on the immigration of the Chinese and Japanese. Early in Washington’s history, while it was still a territory, there was early movement against the Chinese to disabling them from holding land. This was largely due to their apparently “unwanted” migration into Washington. Interestingly enough the first territorial governor, Issac A. Stevens, as well as other officials promoted the migration of foreign workers. They welcomed the Chinese in order to encourage the development of the new territory’s economy. With an economy there would be an appeal to white settlers who would displace the indigenous people. This plan however developed problems for the white workers such as driving down the wage rate and increasing the competition for jobs. So in order to discourage and remove the strong Chinese work force the first enactment of Immigration act were installed in 1790 which removed the Chinese’s ability to obtain or own land. The type of racial discrimination to foreigners that removed their ability to own land has riddled Washington states history. The white supremacy in the earlier years of Washington have determined who by racial color has been able to enjoy these emerald lands. I think Grant captured the goal of this course’s focus by saying, “By facing our region’s racist histories with open eyes, we can better see how the effects linger today, in order that next time we are faced with the social challenges of unemployment, inflation and war we do not repeat the pattern of blaming problems endemic to the profit system on the most vulnerable members of society.”
ReplyDeletehttp://depts.washington.edu/civilr/alien_land_laws.htm
I think the topic of forced sterilization of women and men who were not white, or were considered unfit because of mental, emotional issues or criminal behavior was really interesting. In fact, I'd never heard of it before. I followed the links given on the topic and found something that I think will stick with me for awhile. While two fifteen year old girls were getting their appendix's removed they were also sterilized, without any consent or knowledge. Not even their parents knew. Those two young girls lives were forever changed. Bearing children could have been their dream. That loss of control is so psychologically damaging, I cannot even imagine... All this just because they were Native American. Personally, I feel embarrassed for America. We pride ourselves on being a "melting pot" but we do this? It sickens me. This was not in 1800 something... Forced sterilization was a common occurrence in the 1960's and 70's. The Indian Health Services were accused of having at least 25% of women 15-44 sterilized. My further research led me to eugenics, the "applied science or the biosocial movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population." The Nazi's used to do this, calling it things like such as enforced "racial hygiene", human experimentation, and the extermination of "undesired" population groups. This topic saddens me, and yes, I think it is a very Nazi thing to do. It does not belong in any culture.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/Quiet+Eugenics%3a+sterilization+in+North+Carolina%27s+institutions+for+...-a094537798
I picked “Eugenics” because I had no idea what It meant and I personally never heard anything about it so it seemed like the perfect fit to learn something new that I haven’t learned before, Wikipedia defines it as "applied science or the biosocial movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population," usually referring to human populations. From what I got out this and the reading of Wikipedia, me personally I think its someone’s own personal decision to do this. Because it good be a great thing or a bad thing. But everyone in the world is 50/50 on the subject so there’s a very thin line you can draw from it. By doing this you can get a lot healthier kids and all that but at the same time is not natural so for some people it’s something that they are not comfortable with it. Everyone is entitled to do what they think works out for them.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@MargaretChloe
ReplyDeleteLike you, I never heard about this before until we did some exploration on this topic. Well, it’s just made me hard to believe it. The example your mentioned in your post made sense to me. I am just wondering how people can sterilize girls or boys while they are young and deprive their right becoming a mother or father. And the reasons for this because they were Native Americans, poor and have other skin colors. I agreed with your point that Americans pride themselves as a “melting pot”, and it because Americans are forming with different races and countries’ immigration. However, last century people in this country persecuted the original residents in this country.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Seattle Civil Rights sight and researched an event that occurred in 1907 about South Asian immigrant workers that populated Bellingham in the early 1900’s. They established their own communities, such as pool bars, restaurants, and other public places. With campaigns of exclusion and racism, the society was destroyed within a few days- whites came in and pulled out South Asian workers from their work places, stole their valuables, tore apart their community buildings, and arrested South Asian workers. By 1950, a mere 8 individuals of Asian descent were recorded as residents of Bellingham. In 1960, there was an Immigration reform and numbers of other ethnicities were able to begin replenishment. I think this is really sad and it’s maddening, but it occurred so much in our history I am not at all surprised, and my reaction has been calmed. You can only read about so much tragedy and racism and mistreatment of our citizens and still maintain a feeling of anger. Often times when I read articles like this I have the feeling of defeat, anguish, or loss of hope. I am happy though that our laws are changing and we are taking progressive steps to a more equal environment, but there are still several barriers we need to overcome before oppression is eliminated (can it ever really be eliminated?) From this website, I also found a link to a movie by one of the Historians that explains a little bit more about the tragedy that occurred to the South Asian immigrants in Bellingham. The link is on this website, and you can choose how you would prefer to watch the movie according to your computer.
ReplyDeletehttp://depts.washington.edu/civilr/bham_film.htm
@Ayla Riveira
ReplyDeleteThank you for providing the website. I am also interested in Seattle's history. I also don't know the racism had a big influence in Seattle because I think Seattle is just a peaceful city. And I need to know more about Seattle's history.
I decided to do some research on "eugenics" and a bit on "micro-aggression."Both subjects seemed interesting to me. When I researched the eugenics movement, I was pretty surprised about what I found. The definition is straight forward, hereditary improvement of race through selective breeding. In my opinion, it seems very inane. Although I understand some countries stress the idea of marriage within the same race for cultural status quo and what not, I believe it is wrong to selectively breed within your race with the belief that other races are inferior. Micro-aggression was an interesting topic. Being a "person of color," it was interesting to know that there was a specific name to the subtle snubs that so often occur in my everyday life.
ReplyDeleteEugenics defined as a science that deals with the improvement (as by control of human mating) of hereditary qualities of a race or breed. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eugenics
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time heard about this word and the eugenics movement..
From the definition, I think this is a good word and I guess eugenics movement it something like people are try to make good generation and help people to improve their generation. But after I read the article, I it is really changed my view that the eugenics movement is against nature. This movement wanted to “improve” human race by sterilizing women and men who were not white, who were poor and who has mental issues. Many of Native Americans sterilized when they were young, and they did not have any chance to have babies any more. Some Whites thought that they are born well than other race. They have superior social status so they look down upon the other race. They have more power and privileges than others. This movement makes them feel they are different, they held high position in social hierarchy, and they can show they are powerful as well. I am totally against this movement because I think it is inhumanity and they have right to have their next generation.
Melissa - I originally submitted my comments in the afternoon of 5/1 and I verified the submission was successful. I saw my post at the bottom of the page.But now I could not see my post anymore. I wonder if blogspot removed my comments because of certain words I used in the writing. I was writing about eugenics.Can you check if you can see my comments or can you check with blogspot to see if they removed my posting?I will try to repost my comments again, but I don't know if it will be removed again or not.
ReplyDeleteSo despite the fact of not thinking a post disappearance could happen to me, it did. I got so frustrated and gave up for hours until just now I got back on and decided to post even though I hate my computer and the “back” button for deleting everything. I decided to do my research on Eugenics and also reading up on micro-aggression. Both of these topics make me completely sick at times just knowing that we practiced them not so long ago. Many civilizations tried to practice or even master Eugenics or the “perfect human” pretty much just meaning whipping out everything not right about someone’s genetics or history. The definition like everyone else said is basically the scientific improving of the human race through selective breeding. Just the term of “breeding” humans is sick because it makes certain humans sound like their animals or something similar. The thought of sterilizing a race or selection of humans to make it so they cannot have sex and create children is incredibly unethical. I was reading up on an article of “breeders” that were sterilizing Indian woman not only against their will but without them knowing. Doctors were doing this involuntarily to woman for years so they cannot have children. Most of what I read didn’t come as a surprise to me because I read about eugenics within the German race for a project two years ago. It just came as a surprise to me that this was practiced within the human race in our very own borders in the US. I felt like this should be taught in High schools in the US everywhere so everybody can have a better knowledge of the history of the US and the atrocities our doctors or “breeders” committed for years. Here is a website I came across and was reading about that involves the history of the American Eugenics Movement:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/eugenics/2-origins.cfm
Racism is a developed attitudes that majority group discriminate to other groups, like Whites to Blacks. African American people did not respect by Whites and they have low social status. They are less educated because the racial discrimination in the US. But things have changed since the civil rights movement. African Americans’ educational situations have changed a lot in nationwide and now they have more chances to attend school, get more advanced degrees in school and get higher incomes than before.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil rights movements were a great start for African Americans to become educated. "Civil rights" are the rights of individuals to receive equal treatment (and to be free from unfair treatment or "discrimination") in a number of settings -- including education, employment, housing, and more -- and based on certain legally-protected characteristics (civil rights law). African American people were protected by law and they have same rights just like whites. Having education and getting employed were becoming easy.
In the article, it says that, very few black students attended the University of Washington. In spring of 1968, the Black Student Union initiated a string of militant actions at the UW. They also took action in Seattle high schools. They changed the admission policies and curricula. The numbers of African American students were increase of from 150 to 465 in a year (Seattle civil rights history project). It was a big improvement for African Americans education.
@Tessa,
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said and even checked out your information on Harry Laughlin and even found him on my website too. I found it extremely interesting what you found out about him and his movement against people with epilepsy even though he had episodes of seizures as well. This is similar to Hitler and his hate for Jews even though in his family tree he tried erasing the fact that there were people of Jewish decent. People do this all the time. They try and erase what’s in their very own history and genetics but no matter what it catches up to them.
What truly shocks me has to simply be the fact that they thought they were going to "Americanize" Indians by simply putting them through are schools ect. These are the Past occurrences of history that I know many Americans are not very proud of. However this negative attitude towards Native's I believe has disappeared for the most part so no longer should issues like these exist.
ReplyDeleteThe topic i decided to look in to was the topic of eugenics. Personaly i feel that it shocked me that not only did a scientist come up with these crazy ideas of a better stronger race, but also the fact that Roosevelt backed him up as well.
ReplyDeleteI was also shocked that in the 20's they would have Eugenics get togethers at the fair and would acctauly give ribbons out to "Better Babbies". I do not agree with that one bit, and also to wana make the so called bad race of people steril is just pure crazy. And all of this against there will, and to actually pass am ACT over this is pure crap. Selective breading is bad for animals, and can lead to unhealthy thing, but to bring it on people, just on traits alon, is beyond me.
HANNA, i found it very informative how you went a bit deeper in to research about the "BETTER BABBIES" topic. I checked out the future generations web site "We aspire
ReplyDeleteto total honesty, believing that it is the only policy for people with integrity" (http://www.eugenics.net/) It is insane to me the open up the website with these type of commpents, this seems to me like a totaly new type of racist lifestyle... PHHISSH
''I have found the data about Eugenics via the Newabank Access World News. http://docs.newsbank.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:MBDB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB320C56974FCE6&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggdocs&req_dat=0D2A02882BC90595
ReplyDeleteEugenics Movement is a kind of subject of evolutionism which eliminates the ''detective'' traits in human beings by inhibit the reproduction of the ''dysgenic'' generation. This movement is kind of horrible it is because I think it is just like genocide. In my point of view, reproduction is the basic right and respect as a human being. Except the god, no one can intervene and control one's reproduction. The idea of eugenics sounds like ideal to creat a more perfect and good personality. Yet, I think it is like the the fight of power and status of the race. I can't find any difference between the proponent of eugenics and the supporters of Laden and Hilter. ''
I think we as a people need to get over the idea of perfection. eugenics like dog imbreeding will only lead to bad things. it is another form of racism, sexism, and classism, or as I would call it ignorance. these web sites teach us what has happened about not so popular topics. These sites I think beg us to learn from them, so we as a people are able to grow and not stay in our confined little idea boxes.
ReplyDelete