Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-207) and index.
Contents:
List of illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Motherhood, morality, and the moron : the emergence of eugenics in America -- From segregation to sterilization : Changing approaches to the problem of female sexuality -- Sterilization without unsexing : eugenics and the politics of reproduction -- New Deal for the child : Ann Cooper Hewitt and sterilization in the 1930s -- Marriage is not complete without children : positive eugenics, 1930-1960 -- Epilogue : Building a better family.
Summary:
"Wendy Kline's lucid cultural history of eugenics in America emphasizes the movement's central, continuing interaction with notions of gender and morality. Demonstrating that eugenic ideas were far more powerful in public discourse than other historians have indicated, Kline shows how eugenics could have seemed a viable solution to problems of moral disorder and sexuality, especially female sexuality, during the first half of the twentieth century. Its appeal to social conscience and shared desires to strengthen the family and civilization sparked popular as well as scientific interest."--BOOK JACKET.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.