In an research i am in right now, i stumbled across an interesting point in German social Work history, though it is obviously no German specific: the linkup of Social Work with eugenic welfare programs.
I am not talking about the period of the Nazi-regime in Germany, a linkup then was more then likely (though it exists few literature about that either). I am talking about the time between 1890s and 1933, when eugenic arguments where pretty common across all milieu (confessional - catholic, lutheran etc. - as well as non-confessional - socialist, liberal etc.). It hit me, when i went to library and took a book that has been widespread in the early 20th century, "The prevention of destitution", written by Webb/Webb, who are usually connoted with improvements in welfare sector and alike. Right, that is one part of the story. However, when i went trough the book, chapter three was on "Poverty and Eugenics" and they are pretty good in there arguments, having a socialist eugenic background. For instance they suggest to divide poverty from "disabilities" (that is okay), but in the consequence they suggest to intern the "disabled" (that is NOT okay from today's point of view).
After i gulped, I went to search for German literature on that topic and although there is only a handful of good data and research i found some very complex articles of Michael Schwartz who also did some research especially to the question of confessional eugenic thinking/acting during that time, drawing connections to the big and important confessional welfare organizations and their influence in Weimarian Policy.
This is a rarely communicated topic and i wonder if there is some research on that topic in other countries as well, eg in the US, where eugenics where debated intensive, or in the Scandiniavian Coountries or Switzerland and to what extend social work institutions where involved. Another question would be if there are still programs like that (forced or advised sterilisation for mentally disordered). might weak forms have survived in the (unnecessary) internation of disordered people in closed institutions?
What do you think?
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Topic: SW and eugenics (Read 523 times)