Ian Dowbiggin, The sterilization movement and global fertility in the twentieth century.

Abstract

Ian Dowbiggin. , The sterilization movement and global fertility in the twentieth century. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. 262 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-518858-5 How come that sterilization is the most popular birth control method in the United States today, comprising one-fourth of women having tubal ligation and one-tenth of men having vasectomy? Few countries in the West, the Netherlands and Finland are exceptions, come to such high compliance. Further, worldwide, 40% of the decline in fertility is considered to be due to impact of family programs alone; whereas, sterilization is one of first choice, distinct from other factors as economic development and changing status of women. The historian Ian Dowbiggin tells the 20th century story of sterilization, depicting and understanding the United States perspective without condemning or blaming. The book is most impressive, finely tuning the history between choice and compulsion of sterilization policy; sometimes it has been a fine line in between, sometimes an abyss of abuse of human rights. The book gives an overview from Lamarcke, Charles Darwin and Francis Dalton to the predominant theories of eugenics all over Europe …