Cross-Disciplinary Research and Public Engagement on Eugenic Sterilization: Mixed Methods, Data Visualization, and Cross-State Comparisons

This cross-disciplinary panel examines sociodemographic data and visual storytelling across eugenic sterilization programs in five states (California, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina and Utah) in the first half of the twentieth century. Panelists highlight the value of interdisciplinary and mixed methods to build a rich and layered understanding of the implementation of eugenic policies and public communication approaches regarding rigorous, nuanced research on eugenics. The panel explores: 1) The racialized and gendered construction of disability as a criterion for eugenic sterilization; 2) Mixed-methods research on sterilization “consent” practices and resistance across racial and ethnic identities; 3) The intersection of ethnicity, race, and disability in Michigan; and 4) Data visualization and digital humanities as a methodological tool to study and communicate about histories of eugenics. Through this blend of narrative, data visualization, and qualitative and quantitative analysis, this panel aims to foster an engaging and insightful discussion reimagining the benefits of genomic science while acknowledging and addressing its historical misuses.

Authors: Nicole Novak, University of Iowa; Heather Dron, University of California, Los Angeles; Gianna May Sanchez, University of Michigan; Kate O'Connor, University of Michigan; Jacqueline Wernimont, Dartmouth College