For a Sustainable Inclusive 21st Century: What We Must Learn from Japanese Eugenic Protection Act

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic clearly tells us that eugenics had not died with Nazi ideologies. Current COVID-19 discussions emphasize on ‘triage’ and ‘social distance,’ all of which impacts and continues to threaten the lives of people with disabilities, higher-risked, and aging populations. The current pandemic is a warning that we all must understand and mitigate our internalized eugenic ideology so that our 21st century will be sustainable and inclusive for all. Otherwise, we all will be at risk of being killed because we’ve reached society’s social-limited-age. In order to gain a better understanding society must become aware of historical events through the voice of a person with a disability. Therefore, this paper will highlight the infringements on reproductive rights and basic human-rights in the 20th century through one family’s story.