The American Eugenics Movement: What is it and Why is it an Important Aspect Today?

The Eugenics Movement was a period where the action of trying to control and manipulate human reproduction was explored. The individuals of this period attempted to alter who could reproduce the next generation. These measures included the use of sterilization and restricted marriage legislation.  This later led to Adolf Hitler adopting his “master race” from his trip to the United States. The first group of people who were targets of the Eugenics movement was the disfavored community groups. These groups included criminals, degenerates, and prostitutes. Secondary groups that were targets of the Eugenic Movement included people who had a mental illness or a seizure disorder.  They were an undesirable group because their minds were viewed as defected.  The group of people who had a sensory disability were a target, but never were due to the impact of Helen Keller. Her ability to overcome  her sensory defects to be come a successful person cause the sensory disability to not be a target as the mental illness group. 

This is an important historical event for society, however more so for myself personally.  As a on going training as an Intervention Specialist Educator, because this career involves being an advocate for your students with a disability.  Being an advocate for the disable is important for a variety of reasons. The disable is seen a nuisance to many. However, many who have a disability need some form of support to function normally. Individuals who see the disable as a nuisance do not typically understand the feeling of almost being able to do something on your own. Some examples of this are being able to read, count, or comprehension. These little issues can lead to bigger issue later in life. In addition, there are some indirect relationship to my area of study. No matter what we do as a society, they will always be a group of people who see the disable as a weak and dysfunctional bunch. On top of this, some view the disable group as an expendable. However, as a public educator, they have an unwritten duty of educating their peers and other individuals about what a disability means and how these individuals are just like typically developed counterparts. In closing, the American Eugenics Period was a dark time in American history, but dark times allow for growth in one form or another.