Lots of people on social media share memes about autism. Some point to the etymology of the word, autism. = aut + ism = self + state of. Few point to the person who coined the term, Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler. The Swiss are currently wrestling with their racist past and crafted an article on the legacy of their racist scientists … like Bleuler.
It is true that Bleuler made important contributions to psychiatry in the early 20th century, including coining the terms “schizophrenia” and “autism.” However, Bleuler also espoused extremely problematic eugenicist beliefs. He advocated for sterilizing the “mentally ill” and “mentally deficient” to preserve racial purity and prevent them from reproducing. Bleuler served on the board of the Swiss Association for Racial Hygiene, which promoted eugenic principles. His embrace of eugenics aligned with mainstream scientific views at the time that mental illness had hereditary causes.
Whilst Bleuler's clinical work improved psychiatric care, his social views on eugenics and racial hygiene reflected now-discredited, unethical stances. Experts argue you cannot separate Bleuler's good scientific contributions from his promotion of the horrific eugenic practices. His case represents the ambivalences of early psychiatry - modern in approach yet regressive in ideas on race and genetics.
As Switzerland examines its past, Bleuler exemplifies how even pioneering scientists internalized the toxic eugenic beliefs that prevailed when he practiced. His legacy is mixed - both advancing psychiatry through concepts like autism and schizophrenia yet also furthering harmful eugenic ideology rooted in racism and exclusion. Reckoning with this full, nuanced history is important.
If you’ve never read Edwin Black’s War Against the Weak, and you’re not familiar with “Race Hygiene” or eugenics, here’s a breakdown for you. Remember, eugenicists in the early 20th century wanted to prevent those they deemed '“deficient’ from reproducing for several key reasons:
Improving the human race - Eugenicists believed that many physical, mental, and personality traits were hereditary. By stopping "unfit" people from passing on their genes, eugenicists aimed to selectively breed humans with desirable qualities. This goal of enhancing the genetic makeup of the human race was a core driver.
Reducing social problems - Many eugenicists linked traits like criminality, poverty, and mental disability to genetic defects. They argued that stopping these “inferior” bloodlines would lessen the burden of those dependent on society for support. This fit with their view of social problems having biological origins.
Upholding economic prosperity - Linked to the above, eugenicists claimed preventing the “unfit” from reproducing would reduce government spending on aid, institutions, and social welfare. This fiscal argument was used to justify eugenics as prudent policy.
Preserving racial purity - Some eugenicists connected physical and mental traits to race and wanted to maintain racial hierarchies. Stopping interracial breeding and reproduction of minority groups was a goal to preserve the dominance of white Europeans.
National strength and pride - Eugenics was also equated with strength of a nation or ethnicity. Bearing healthy children was positioned as a patriotic duty. This added to the social pressures supporting eugenic controls.
So in essence, eugenicists viewed controlled procreation as a means of fostering human advancement, reducing social burdens, and preserving racial power structures. Their aims were based on now-disproven notions of genetic superiority and racial purity.
There are certainly some concerning parallels between historical eugenics efforts and modern approaches aimed at “curing” or eliminating autism:
Focus on normalizing - Both eugenics and some autism cure research seek to get rid of difference and impose societal standards of “normal.” This marginalizes neurodiverse identities.
Eliminating genetic traits - Eugenics tried to wipe out alleged “defective” genetic lines. The goal of eliminating autism implies autistic traits are defects rather than natural variations.
Judgment of disability - Eugenicists saw disability as a burden on society. Though usually well-meaning, autism cure advocates also frame autism as wholly negative and tragic.
Coercive treatment - Eugenics was often coercive. There are concerns some “autism therapies” coerce compliance or try to mask autistic characteristics rather than accommodate them.
Rhetoric of public health - Eugenics was couched in scientific language of promoting health in the population. “Autism cure” rhetoric also utilizes public health framing in concerning ways.
This discussion has explored the complex history of autism, from its problematic origins linked to eugenics to present-day debates over approaches to autism. Whilst we must remain vigilant against any return to viewing neurodiversity as something to eliminate, we should also avoid condemning all efforts to support autistic people as unethical. Most importantly, we must affirm the value of autistic lives and identities, regardless of one's position on the autism spectrum or origin of diagnosis. Autism is a natural part of human diversity, not something to extinguish. All autistic individuals, whether clinically diagnosed or self-identified, deserve self-determination, dignity, and the right to be accepted on our own terms in an inclusive society. Neurodiversity benefits all, and the autism community has much to teach us, if we simply choose to listen.
Eugenics is very disturbing-thank you for sharing this history 👍🏻
I agree 💯 with the following and appreciate listening to you:
“Most importantly, we must affirm the value of autistic lives and identities, regardless of one's position on the autism spectrum or origin of diagnosis. Autism is a natural part of human diversity, not something to extinguish. All autistic individuals, whether clinically diagnosed or self-identified, deserve self-determination, dignity, and the right to be accepted on our own terms in an inclusive society. Neurodiversity benefits all, and the autism community has much to teach us, if we simply choose to listen.”
I think it bears mentioning, too, that Hitler got a lot of his ideas on racial purity directly from the eugenic policies and philosophies in the US - most notably, he was inspired by California's sterilization practices.
Eugenics is very disturbing-thank you for sharing this history 👍🏻
I agree 💯 with the following and appreciate listening to you:
“Most importantly, we must affirm the value of autistic lives and identities, regardless of one's position on the autism spectrum or origin of diagnosis. Autism is a natural part of human diversity, not something to extinguish. All autistic individuals, whether clinically diagnosed or self-identified, deserve self-determination, dignity, and the right to be accepted on our own terms in an inclusive society. Neurodiversity benefits all, and the autism community has much to teach us, if we simply choose to listen.”
I think it bears mentioning, too, that Hitler got a lot of his ideas on racial purity directly from the eugenic policies and philosophies in the US - most notably, he was inspired by California's sterilization practices.
Thus the Edwin Black reference 😉