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Ōta Tenrei’s defense of birth control, eugenics and euthanasia

Ōta Tenrei’s defense of birth control, eugenics and euthanasia Ōta Tenrei (1900–1985) was a gynecologist, socialist, birth control activist, sexologist, aswell as an advocate of eugenics and euthanasia, who participated in the enactment of the Eugenic Protection Law (1948–1996) and founded the Japan Euthanasia Society (1976, now the Japan Society for Dying with Dignity). Ōta had progressive views onsexuality, women’s rights, and reproduction, especially vocal in hisadvocacy of abortion rights. At the same time, he was an advocate of eugenics and he attempted to legalize euthanasia in Japan, arguing among other reasons that some people were a “burden” on society. This article examines Ōta’s advocacy of seemingly contradictory causes such as abortion, eugenics, and euthanasia. It suggests that first, for Ōta all these causes were progressive, aimed at creating a “better world,” and second, he put an excessive stress on autonomy, disregarding rights of those who lacked it, be itfetus, people in a vegetative state, or the intellectually disabled. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Contemporary Japan Taylor & Francis

Ōta Tenrei’s defense of birth control, eugenics and euthanasia

Hovhannisyan, Astghik
Contemporary Japan , Volume 30 (1): 15 – Jan 2, 2018
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Ōta Tenrei’s defense of birth control, eugenics and euthanasia

Abstract

Ōta Tenrei (1900–1985) was a gynecologist, socialist, birth control activist, sexologist, aswell as an advocate of eugenics and euthanasia, who participated in the enactment of the Eugenic Protection Law (1948–1996) and founded the Japan Euthanasia Society (1976, now the Japan Society for Dying with Dignity). Ōta had progressive views onsexuality, women’s rights, and reproduction, especially vocal in hisadvocacy of abortion rights. At the same time, he was an...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2018 German Institute for Japanese Studies
ISSN
1869-2737
eISSN
1869-2729
DOI
10.1080/18692729.2018.1424261
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Ōta Tenrei (1900–1985) was a gynecologist, socialist, birth control activist, sexologist, aswell as an advocate of eugenics and euthanasia, who participated in the enactment of the Eugenic Protection Law (1948–1996) and founded the Japan Euthanasia Society (1976, now the Japan Society for Dying with Dignity). Ōta had progressive views onsexuality, women’s rights, and reproduction, especially vocal in hisadvocacy of abortion rights. At the same time, he was an advocate of eugenics and he attempted to legalize euthanasia in Japan, arguing among other reasons that some people were a “burden” on society. This article examines Ōta’s advocacy of seemingly contradictory causes such as abortion, eugenics, and euthanasia. It suggests that first, for Ōta all these causes were progressive, aimed at creating a “better world,” and second, he put an excessive stress on autonomy, disregarding rights of those who lacked it, be itfetus, people in a vegetative state, or the intellectually disabled.

Journal

Contemporary Japan – Taylor & Francis

Published: Jan 2, 2018

Keywords: Ōta Tenrei; abortion; eugenics; euthanasia; personhood; death with dignity; birth control

References

  • “A rational coalition”: Euthanasia, eugenics, and birth control in America, 1940-1970
  • “Bunka kokka” no yūseihō: Yūsei hogohō to kokumin yūseihō no dansō [The Eugenic Law of the “Cultural Nation”: The deference between the Eugenic Protection Law and the National Eugenics Law]
  • Ichijisei hinin no shinhōhō: Shikyūnai sōchi hinin kigu no kenkyū [New method of temporary contraception: A study of an intrauterine contraceptive device]
  • Anrakushi no atarashii kaishaku to sono gohōka [New interpretation of euthanasia and its legalization]
  • Rōjin iryō (tettei tairon) [Medical care of the elderly: A debate]
  • Ōta Tenrei shōron: Anrakushi shisō no higan to shigan [On Ōta Tenrei: Utopia and dystopia in his thoughts on euthanasia]
  • Shi ni itaru awaremi: Keimō/teikō/hannō no 1970 nendai [Merciful death: Enlightenment/resistance/reaction of the 1970s]
  • Abortion and infanticide