Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2025
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
11.9K
Racialization and Reproduction: Asian Immigrants and California's Twentieth-Century Eugenic Sterilization Program
Marie Kaniecki1, Nicole L Novak2, Sarah Gao3
1Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90096, USA.
Social Forces; a Scientific Medium of Social Study and Interpretation
|October 16, 2023
Summary
This study reveals that Asian-born women in California faced disproportionately higher rates of coercive sterilization compared to US-born and other foreign-born women. Asian-born men also experienced higher sterilization rates before 1933, highlighting discrimination in eugenics programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- History
Background:
- California's eugenics program led to over 20,000 sterilizations in the 20th century.
- Asian immigrants faced marginalization within racial, gender, and class hierarchies.
- Limited research connects Asian immigration restriction policies to eugenics-based racism and sexism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine coercive sterilization patterns among Asian immigrants in California.
- To hypothesize higher institutionalization and sterilization rates for Asian-born individuals.
- To analyze the intersection of immigration policy, racism, sexism, and eugenics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized complete count census microdata (1910-1940) and digitized sterilization recommendation forms (1920-1945).
- Modeled relative institutionalization and sterilization rates, stratified by gender.
- Compared Asian-born, other foreign-born, and US-born populations.
Main Results:
- Other foreign-born individuals exhibited the highest institutionalization rates.
- Asian-born women had significantly higher sterilization rates than US-born and other foreign-born women (IRR=2.00).
- Asian-born men showed higher sterilization rates than US-born men prior to 1933 (IRR=1.31).
Conclusions:
- Demonstrates the health impacts of discrimination on Asian Americans.
- Highlights the disproportionate sterilization of racial minorities within state eugenics programs.
- Underscores the racist and gendered implementation of eugenics in California.
Related Concept Videos
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
90.2K
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
90.2K
03:20The Stanford Prison Experiment
23.2K
The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.
23.2K
01:29Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
20.1K
As used in a healthcare facility, sterilization destroys all microorganisms through physical or chemical methods. The physical method includes steam, dry heat, boiling water, and radiation.
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
20.1K
01:56Ethics in Research
23.0K
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
23.0K
01:30Methods of Sterilization II: Chemical Methods
6.5K
In healthcare, the chemical method of sterilization uses chemical sterilants to treat surgical instruments and medical supplies to help prevent the transmission of infectious pathogens to patients. Due to heat sensitivity, most medical supplies and equipment should not be exposed to high temperatures. These parts include rubber, plastic, glass, and other similar elements.
Using chemical sterilization rather than heat to clean out equipment is recommended. It eradicates and removes all bacteria,...
Using chemical sterilization rather than heat to clean out equipment is recommended. It eradicates and removes all bacteria,...
6.5K
02:16Stereotype Content Model
14.7K
The Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was first proposed by Susan Fiske and her colleagues (Fiske, Cuddy, Glick & Xu, 2002; see also Fiske, 2012 and Fiske, 2017). The SCM specifies that when someone encounters a new group, they will stereotype them based on two metrics: warmth—or that group’s perceived intent, and how likely they are to provide help or inflict harm—and competence—or their ability to carry out that objective. Depending on the warmth-competence...
14.7K