Eugenics and Deaf Women in Finland: Insights from Applications for Abortions and Sterilizations to the National Board of Health, 1955–1970

Abstract: This article examines how the ideology of eugenics affected deaf women in Finland. Between 1935 and 1970, 7,530 people, primarily women, were sterilized under the Sterilisation Act. Herein, I address three questions: (1) How many eugenics-based sterilizations and/or abortions were performed on deaf women? (2) What were the justifications for sterilization and abortion decisions? And, (3) what kinds of interactions can be observed from the documents? I analyzed seventy-nine sterilization and abortion documents submitted by or for deaf women to the National Board of Health from 1955 to 1970. My analysis, inspired by grounded theory and hermeneutics, focused on unmarried women's cases. I found that decisions for unmarried women were based on hereditary deafness and (hereditary) mental deficiency versus health reasons for married women. A more detailed analysis revealed that unmarried deaf women faced significant interaction barriers weakening their agency, suggesting their cases can be considered forced sterilizations.