The History of Eugenics Theories

There have been recent debates on whether the prevalent behavior of most eugenicists is acceptable or not. They are responsible for taking people’s lives and exaggerating or fictionalizing their aspects to validate their eugenics philosophies. Such examples include J. David Smith and Michael Wehmyer’s “Who Was Deborah Kallikak?” intellect Disabii, and Charles Davenport’s “The Names: feeble-minded as country dwellers.” As much as these eugenicists try to justify their actions, it is evident that their theories portray instances of discrimination such as misogyny, classism, and racism. For example, was Deborah Kallikak developmentally disabled, or was she just framed by Davenport to suit his theories?

The Kallikak family was one of the most famous narratives portraying eugenics ever to be published at the onset of the 20 th century. The family characterized an alleged theory of a decadent family from countryside New Jersey starting with Deborah, an inmate at the Vineland Training School for Feeble-minded Children. Most publications described the family as perverts, illiterate, and immoral. The Kallikak’s were seen to be chronically unemployed, criminals, feeble-minded, and were assumed to be a risk to racial hygiene. The narrative by eugenicists was used to support their actions at the beginning of the 20 th century without minding the true identity and facts about Deborah Kallikak and her family. It clearly shows the biasness and the incorrect nature of the theories given.

Goddard’s act of introducing a Binet test on Deborah is evidence of misogyny as he aimed to prove her degeneracy and feeble-mindedness. Also, his biasness is evident in how he portrays classism and racism by admitting to having made dogmatic statements and made conclusions that lack scientific warrant from the data to satisfy the lay reader. Aside from Goddard’s description of Deborah, she was literate and well-learned despite the injustices done to her by self-centered eugenicists.