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== Gender Discrimination in Nazi Germany==
== Gender Discrimination in Nazi Germany==
===Women's Role in Nazi Germany===
===Women's Role in Nazi Germany===
Although mass murder is the most profound example of eugenics in Nazi Germany, it is also important to analyze the role women played in this time period.  
Although mass murder is the most profound example of eugenics in Nazi Germany, it is also important to analyze the role women played in this time period. Decline in German birth rate:
====Sterilization Laws====
Reached an int’l low in 1932
Perceived as a birth strike by women
Eugenic discrimination in nazi germany became ‘final solution’ to these inferiors
Remedy= social improvement of society: inc. # superiors, dec # inferiors
First raise public awareness, then use financial and social incentives
“# of degenerate women born depends on # of degenerate women capable of procreation”
 
In Nazi Germany, women were divided into two sections; superior and inferior. This classification was determined by their nationality, marital status, and position they held within society. German= superior, jews/ polish/others= inferiors, house servants, unskilled factory workers, famr workers, prostitutes, unmarried women, anyone who deviated from the norm= inferior
-as economic conditions bettered, number of births increased
-pregnancy considered forced labor-sexism
-physician patient relationship replaced by loyalty to the state
-anyone hostile against the state could be coined as ‘retarded’


====Abortion Laws====
====Abortion Laws====
Women of the superior race, were expected to bear children and continue on the Ayran race. These women were forbiden to obtain an abortion and if violated, faced various consequences depending on the degree of their crime committed.
• May 1933- 2 penal laws prohibited availability of abortion facilities, legalized eugenic sterilization and prohibited voluntary steriliazation
• Only after 3 kids could a woman have an abortion
• Wanted to promote gene value—build superior race
• Documents tell of abortions being performed illegally by the women themselves or unqualified people.
• 1937 estimates of 400,000 abortions occurred
• 1933-45 under hitler: severe restrictions placed on abortions and use of contraceptives
o Could impose death penalty
• However lack of documentation of abortions
• History of abortions: 1851-1933
o Paragraphs 218 of penal code for german reich took effect January 1872: a pregnant women who killed her baby in utero could serve 5 years of a penitentiary sentence
 By 1938, convictions against reached 7000 65% increase from 1932, mostly female physicians were arrested
o P 219: any person who performs an abortion for financial gain would be subject to penitentiary sentence of 10 years
o 1933- reintroducted p 218 and 219:
 219:anybody who advertises / advocates abortions faces a fine or prison sentence not exceeding 2 yrs
 220:anyone who publicly offers services for abortions will face fine or punishment up to 2 yrs
 “law for the prevention of hereditary diseases in future generations” jan 1934, preventing lives that are unworthy of living
• Petitions heard about this, 94% were sterilized
o Abortion to save women’s life did not constitute as a crime
o Working women harmed by pregnancies
o Faced opposition from roman catholic church---- made sentences less severe
 Church also does not support contraceptives
o Since rules were not lifted, illegal abortions continued to increase, 1926 hamburg predicted 2 out of 3 were aborted
o Abortion could only be performed if it threatened the health of the mother- had to be determined by at least 2 doctors
o Blocking reproduction of german volk acts detrimental to german nation or those who mix blood with lesser races (jews, blacks, other inferiors)- deteriorates nation---will be punished under racial treason
o Increasing social unrest caused number of abortions to increase
• Sex education and contraceptions 1905-33
o 1905- birth control movement
o Nazi view “mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world” pg 87 david et al
o People involved in movement were pushed into retirement or asked to emigrate
o Advertisements were restricted, contraceptive sales were not prohibited
o Use of contraceptives were a violation of nature, degradation of womanhood, motherhood and love
• 1939-1945- years of the war
o Fight against abortion intensified
o Condoms were exempt b/c could prevent venereal disease
o 1940- officers granted permission to perform sterilization and abortion on inferiors
====Sterilization Laws====


==How did Nazi Germany affect the rest of the world?==
==How did Nazi Germany affect the rest of the world?==

Revision as of 02:04, 29 November 2009

Eugenics and Nazi Germany

What is Eugenics?

-also referred to as race-hygiene

History of Eugenics

Gender Discrimination in Nazi Germany

Women's Role in Nazi Germany

Although mass murder is the most profound example of eugenics in Nazi Germany, it is also important to analyze the role women played in this time period. Decline in German birth rate: Reached an int’l low in 1932 Perceived as a birth strike by women Eugenic discrimination in nazi germany became ‘final solution’ to these inferiors Remedy= social improvement of society: inc. # superiors, dec # inferiors First raise public awareness, then use financial and social incentives “# of degenerate women born depends on # of degenerate women capable of procreation”

In Nazi Germany, women were divided into two sections; superior and inferior. This classification was determined by their nationality, marital status, and position they held within society. German= superior, jews/ polish/others= inferiors, house servants, unskilled factory workers, famr workers, prostitutes, unmarried women, anyone who deviated from the norm= inferior -as economic conditions bettered, number of births increased -pregnancy considered forced labor-sexism -physician patient relationship replaced by loyalty to the state -anyone hostile against the state could be coined as ‘retarded’

Abortion Laws

Women of the superior race, were expected to bear children and continue on the Ayran race. These women were forbiden to obtain an abortion and if violated, faced various consequences depending on the degree of their crime committed. • May 1933- 2 penal laws prohibited availability of abortion facilities, legalized eugenic sterilization and prohibited voluntary steriliazation • Only after 3 kids could a woman have an abortion • Wanted to promote gene value—build superior race • Documents tell of abortions being performed illegally by the women themselves or unqualified people. • 1937 estimates of 400,000 abortions occurred • 1933-45 under hitler: severe restrictions placed on abortions and use of contraceptives o Could impose death penalty • However lack of documentation of abortions • History of abortions: 1851-1933 o Paragraphs 218 of penal code for german reich took effect January 1872: a pregnant women who killed her baby in utero could serve 5 years of a penitentiary sentence  By 1938, convictions against reached 7000 65% increase from 1932, mostly female physicians were arrested o P 219: any person who performs an abortion for financial gain would be subject to penitentiary sentence of 10 years o 1933- reintroducted p 218 and 219:  219:anybody who advertises / advocates abortions faces a fine or prison sentence not exceeding 2 yrs  220:anyone who publicly offers services for abortions will face fine or punishment up to 2 yrs  “law for the prevention of hereditary diseases in future generations” jan 1934, preventing lives that are unworthy of living • Petitions heard about this, 94% were sterilized o Abortion to save women’s life did not constitute as a crime o Working women harmed by pregnancies o Faced opposition from roman catholic church---- made sentences less severe  Church also does not support contraceptives o Since rules were not lifted, illegal abortions continued to increase, 1926 hamburg predicted 2 out of 3 were aborted o Abortion could only be performed if it threatened the health of the mother- had to be determined by at least 2 doctors o Blocking reproduction of german volk acts detrimental to german nation or those who mix blood with lesser races (jews, blacks, other inferiors)- deteriorates nation---will be punished under racial treason o Increasing social unrest caused number of abortions to increase • Sex education and contraceptions 1905-33 o 1905- birth control movement o Nazi view “mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world” pg 87 david et al o People involved in movement were pushed into retirement or asked to emigrate o Advertisements were restricted, contraceptive sales were not prohibited o Use of contraceptives were a violation of nature, degradation of womanhood, motherhood and love • 1939-1945- years of the war o Fight against abortion intensified o Condoms were exempt b/c could prevent venereal disease o 1940- officers granted permission to perform sterilization and abortion on inferiors

Sterilization Laws

How did Nazi Germany affect the rest of the world?

Affect in the US

Sources