Ethnocentrism & Eugenics: 400BC to Present - Essay Sample

Introduction

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's culture is superior to that of other cultures and holds a dominant power over these cultures. This is closely related to the concept of eugenics. Eugenics refers to beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population, typically by excluding people and groups as being inferior and promoting those judged to be superior. Eugenics was introduced in the medical profession as early as 400BC. Before the inception of the term eugenics, the process was referred to as racial cleansing. The underlying ideology was that, by preventing people perceived to possess inferior genes from breeding, then it would be possible to come up with a race of an ideal society. Among the members of the society who were to be prevented from taking part in reproduction included; mad people, those with terminal illnesses, thieves, blacks, and other social profiles that were considered undesirable. The pseudo-science of eugenics is condemnable in every way and violates the basic human rights to life and freedom and, as a result, should be condemned in every way possible.

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The history of eugenics could get traced back to the ideology that was introduced by Plato on selective breeding to humans. Advocates of eugenics in the 19th century considered the approach to improve particular groups of people to develop a superior society. To ensure the success of the eugenics process, measures such as forced sterilization, prohibitions of marriages among other measures that were aimed at ensuring that those deemed genetically inferior in the society were not provided with a chance to continue the spread of their inferior genes. The ideologies and concepts that eugenics stands for have been considered as scientific racism and a promoter of white supremacism (Farrall, 2019).

Despite the negative light surrounding the concept of eugenics, there are certain uses of the practice that are still used in society today. Genetic screening, for instance, is one use of eugenics. With the advanced modern health technology, it is possible to determine genetic defects in an unborn child and take the necessary precautions. In most instances, pregnancies identified to be defective have been terminated before the due date, which is a form of eugenics in a lower tier. Birth control and forced abortions are also other aspects of eugenics that are being practiced in society today. While it is condemnable in every way possible to take away life, scientific supporting, and evidence-based on the advantages of these practices have made it relatively difficult to curb the spread of the act.

Eugenics Archive Blog

The eugenics archive blog on the eugenicsarchive.org website provides detailed insights on the nature of the eugenics case and how even state governments went ahead to carry out the exercise ("Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement," 2020). From 1929-1974, the North Carolina administration is on record for having overseen the sterilization of approximately 7600 people in pursuit of the eugenics program. In 2012, the case was reopened, and the task force recommended that the state pay a sum of $50,000 for any living individuals who fell victim to the above process ("Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement," 2020). To make matters worse, a considerable population of these individuals were subjected to the sterilization process without their consent or unknowingly. Other states in America that passed sterilization laws include Indiana in the year 1907, where the state intended to provide vasectomies for the inmates who could help to curb the spread of degenerate genes in the society.

Given that the eugenics advocates were aimed at coming up with a pool of superior genes that enabled the society to alleviate common social vices that were attributed to the members who possessed inferior genes. IQ tests were commonly used as measures of intelligence, and individuals who exhibited poor performance in the above tests were considered to be genetically inferior and thus not suitable for breeding (Farrall, 2019). By ensuring that these people are not allowed to breed, the eugenics advocates believed that they would come up with a clean society genetically. The society viewed various social factors such as mental illness, to depict inferior genes that needed to be eliminated from society. George Santayana famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are bound to repeat the same mistake." Such advocates of eugenics claimed that by cleansing the social genes, it would be possible to alleviate any social shortcomings in the society.

Comparison to Asch Article

In a comparison of eugenics to the Asch article on the effects of conformity in society, various eugenics practices have been identified to be adopted into the social ways of life. For instance, the idea of genetic screening has been sold to the public by the ministry of health as an essential health measure that has helped to reduce the number of children born with genetic issues. This is a conformity that has been sold to the people as an important medical procedure whereby parents have been provided with a chance to make decisions on their offspring. While every parent desires to give birth to an offspring who is healthy, genetic screening has served as a ground for eugenics where the bad gens get eliminated before being released into the world.

Birth control is yet another eugenic related issue that the field of modern medicine has managed to accommodate—forced pregnancies where parents or spouses have been forced to have an abortion based on various surrounding circumstances. For instance, having an abortion due to financial instability is a eugenics practice. In combination, all these factors contribute to the controlled breeding concept, which is a practice of eugenics in our modern society.

Personal Ethical Assumptions

From a personal point of view, eugenics is a practice that should be condemned and abolished by law. Every individual has the right to life irrespective of their superior or inferior genetic make-up. The history of selective breeding is not only degrading to various classes members of the society but also communities at large. This is why some words, such as scientific racism and the promotion of white supremacism, were used to describe the practice. The right to life is not reserved only for the chosen few who seem to excel in the fields that human beings have outlined as the standard measure of productivity.

Every individual is productive in their unique way and thus fits into a particular field of practice with exposure to the right kind of conditions. Race, character, mental health status, or any other health aspects should not be used as an excuse to cut out a particular group of people from society. Take, for instance, Dorothy Hamill, an iconic skating legend in the Olympics was diagnosed with depression, which is a common mental illness. Sociologists and psychologists have also linked President Donald Trump to be suffering from a borderline personality disorder, a form of mental disorder. The second president of the united states, John Adams, was also diagnosed to be bipolar.

All the above individuals are prominent people who have excelled in their respective fields despite their mental challenges and shortcomings. If the concept of selective breeding is applied, we are bound to losing more prominent figures like these who would have made a profound impact on the face of the earth. As a result, the concept of eugenics should be detested by all means possible to ensure that the society we live in provides every individual with equal opportunities at life without any grounds of discrimination.

References

Farrall, L. A. (2019). The history of eugenics: a bibliographical review. Annals of Science, 36(2), 111-123.

Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement. (2020). Retrieved 8 June 2020, from http://eugenicsarchive.org/eugenics/