"Like genes, ideas evolve. But it's up to us to decide which ones survive."
Eugenics is an inaccurate theory linked to historical and contemporary forms of discrimination, racism, ableism, and colonialism. It has persisted in policies and beliefs around the world, driven by racist and xenophobic attitudes, causing widespread harm, especially to marginalized populations. Eugenicists believed they could create a "perfect race" of human beings by eliminating populations with so-called undesirable traits using science. Through methods such as forced sterilization, segregation, and social exclusion, eugenicists sought to rid society of individuals they deemed "unfit."
Key Terms
To gain a full understanding of the content we cover in our podcast, there are a couple of important terms we need to define:
Eugenics
A discredited belief that selective breeding for certain inherited human traits can improve the “fitness” of future generations (National Human Genome Research Institute)
Positive eugenics
A form of eugenics that encourages the procreation of individuals and groups who are viewed as possessing desirable characteristics and genes (Canadian Encyclopedia)
Negative eugenics
A form of eugenics that discourages and decreases the procreation of individuals and groups who are viewed as having inferior or undesirable characteristics and genes (Canadian Encyclopedia)
Sterilization
A permanent medical procedure that prevents pregnancy, such as tubal ligation (Canadian Encyclopedia).
In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
An assisted reproductive technique comprised of a series of procedures that can lead to pregnancy; it's used as a treatment for infertility and can be used to prevent passing on genetic problems to a child (Yale Medicine).
Social Darwinism
The theory that human groups and races are subject to the same laws of natural selection as Charles Darwin perceived in plants and animals in nature (Britannica)
