

Jess Whatcott, "Menace to the Future: A Disability and Queer History of Carceral Eugenics" (Duke UP, 2024)
Sep 7, 2024
Jess Whatcott, an author examining disability, queer history, and eugenics, discusses the historical and contemporary implications of carceral eugenics. They explore California's chilling past of state-sponsored sterilization in women's prisons and offer insights into the 'defective class' and its societal impact. Whatcott reveals marginalized voices of resistance against institutional eugenics, critiques labor exploitation in these settings, and emphasizes the urgent need for reform in care systems. This conversation sheds light on the continuing relevance of these issues.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Unpacking Carceral Eugenics in California
01:30 • 18min
Exploring the Concept of the 'Defective Class' and Its Societal Implications
19:09 • 4min
Confinement and Eugenics: A Historical Analysis
22:52 • 15min
Exploitation of Labor in Institutional Settings
38:11 • 2min
Utopian Visions and the Exclusion of Disability
40:40 • 4min
Resisting Institutionalization: Voices Against Eugenics
45:02 • 12min