Eugenics Today

After discussing the controversial issue of eugenics in class and going over how it was used for negative things such as forced sterilization and genocide I was curious if there was anything happening today in regards to it. I did a quick search and found this article about sterilization being used today in an organization called “Project Prevention” in California. This organization offers drug addicts the incentive of $300 if they agree to become sterilized. The goal of this is to prevent babies from being exposed to drugs while still in the womb and to prevent the pain and hardships of having to grow up with drug addicted parents. They use advertising campaigns featuring crying babies with the slogan “Get birth control or get sterilized and we’ll pay you $300!” This project has faced a plethora of backlash for several reasons. First, many feel this is a violation of civil rights by promoting a “vicious image of the external drug addict” with no focus on the internal human being. Secondly, this organization is preying on a vulnerable and desperate population of drug addicts, who are going to be willing to do almost anything for $300. I wonder if anyone who has gotten sterilized now regrets the decision. Perhaps these drug addicts will be able to clean up their lives and in the future want children. While it’s not technically “forced” sterilization, this entire process is very reminiscent of the history of eugenics in the US and shows how this entire ideology still has support for population control.