Eugenics

Eugenics Movement's Impact on Motherhood

The Eugenics Movement that took place in the early 20th century in the United States as well as many historically British protectorates, including South Africa and India, strongly influenced certain women to become mothers, primarily upper-middle-class Caucasian women. In certain circles in the United States, the Eugenics Movement was viewed as an awakening of the power of women. Upper-and middle-class women were told they were now responsible for the future of mankind. They were advised to find suitable matches to provide offspring that were of acceptable and appealing demeanor, who had a higher genetic makeup than lower-class individuals—primarily referring to immigrants. Those who came from a northern European background were considered to be of the highest genetic makeup. Laws were created in numerous states that forbid interracial marriage; certain races were not considered genetically sound. At this juncture in history, many women were willing to be cast as heroines, responsible for proliferation of a better society; they were able to now choose their mate and afforded a power not attainable prior to this period in history.

Due to the Eugenics Movement, women were considered to be essential to the procreation of the perfect race and were validated as the essential gender, enabling the destiny of the human population. The eugenics message implied that women needed to stay home and be mothers for the benefit of society. The message was circulated at houses of worship and meeting houses, and written about in articles in local newspapers.

Changing social factors during the early 20th century in the United States helped to catapult men to advocate for the Eugenics Movement. During industrialization, women were beginning to seek opportunities for themselves, the birth rate declined, upper-middle-class women were seeking to attend colleges, a greater incidence of abortions (though illegal) was documented, and the use of birth control increased. Women were engaging in more dominant behaviors; this indicated upheaval for a male-dominated society and a need to repress female independence.

Many feminists were quiet regarding the issue of eugenics, as it did afford some choice for certain populations of women. Yet, a small group of American feminists of the early 20th century, mostly those who engaged in the Suffragette Movement, were opposed to the eugenics philosophy. Feminists recognized that the “positive” aspect that enabled certain women to choose their mate for procreation at the same time disenfranchised women of lower-class status. Lower-class women were expected to choose not to procreate for the sake of creating a pure race. For early feminists, the Eugenics Movement repressed all women by not encouraging, nor permitting, women to be independent, work outside of the home, or have an influence on their own outcomes in life. It also established a mechanism for keeping women out of the workplace as well as diminishing the likelihood of the ability of individual groups—such as immigrants, African Americans, and Native Americans—to gain employment that would take jobs away from Anglo male populations.

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