PSEUDOSCIENCE AND EUGENICS

Catalog description

Eugenics, or efforts to encourage reproduction among human beings considered "fit" and discourage reproduction among those considered "unfit," is often regarded as outdated practice that began and ended with Nazi Germany. However, the United States has its own legacy of eugenics. Indeed, eugenicist scientists and activists in the United States had a strong influence on Nazi-era policies and propaganda. This course will explore that legacy, as well as contemporary examples of eugenicist policies. We will examine a range of eugenicist and forced assimilation tactics (forced sterilization, boarding schools, immigration restrictions to discourage those deemed "unfit" from reproducing/immigrating; fitter family competitions and reward systems to encourage those deemed "fit" to reproduce). We will also address efforts to manipulate a wide range of population characteristics, such as disability status, race, religion, ethnicity, and sexuality. Throughout the course, we will pay close attention to the role of scientists in promoting and opposing eugenicist ideas and practices.