Sterilization, Humans

Practiced by various societies for different reasons. The eunuchs of the Chinese imperial courts and of the Osmanic harems served as guardians of the privileges of tyrannical social structures. The castration of male Italian opera artistes were performed for singing in female roles, in an era when women were banned from the performing arts. In the 1880s, by the publications of Sir Francis Galton sought scientific justifications for negative eugenics in order “to produce a highly gifted race of men by judicious marriages during consecutive generations.” 1890s initiated sporadic sterilization of institutionalized, mentally retarded persons. Starting in 1907, in about 14 states (USA), laws were enacted for systematic sterilization of mentally retarded, blind, deaf, crippled or afflicted by tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, and chronic alcoholism. This “practical, merciful and inevitable solution” eventually degenerated into legal suggestions to eliminate criminal behavior, disease,...