Altogether at least sixty thousand people were sterilized because of Laughlin's efforts. At the peak of the movement in the 1930s, some thirty states had sterilization laws, though only Virginia and California made wide use of them. It is perhaps worth noting that sterilization laws remain on the books in twenty states today.
Bill Bryson's "One Summer: America, 1927" highlights the significant impact of eugenics, particularly the sterilization movement led by figures like Harry Laughlin. His advocacy resulted in the forced sterilization of at least sixty thousand individuals, reflecting a wider societal acceptance of these practices in the 1930s. While sterilization laws were enacted in about thirty states, only Virginia and California implemented them extensively, demonstrating a stark regional variation in their application.
Interestingly, many of these sterilization laws have persisted, with twenty states still retaining them. This lingering presence of eugenics in American law raises important questions about the historical context and ethical implications of such policies. Bryson's work encourages readers to reflect on the consequences of these laws, not only in the past but also in their relevance today.
