Defectives in the Land: Disability and Immigration in the Age of Eugenics

Immigration history has overlooked disability as a crucial factor in the image of the "undesirable immigrant," but Defectives in the Land aims to change this by examining how immigration restriction in the United States was primarily intended to keep people with disabilities out of the country.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2020
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Immigration history has traditionally prioritized the restriction of immigrants based on race and ethnicity, while overlooking the significant role of disability in shaping the perception of the "undesirable immigrant." In his groundbreaking work, Defectives in the Land, Douglas C. Baynton seeks to challenge this prevailing narrative.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, immigration restriction in the United States was primarily driven by the desire to keep individuals with disabilities, referred to as "defectives," out of the country. A comprehensive list of those considered defective includes individuals with various disabilities such as deafness, blindness, epilepsy, mobility impairments, curved spines, hernias, flat or club feet, missing limbs, and short limbs. Moreover, individuals with intellectual or psychiatric disabilities, intersex individuals, men of "poor physique," and men diagnosed with "feminism" were also excluded from immigration.

Baynton argues that early immigration laws were part of a broader effort to effectively exclude people perceived as defective. This effort was deeply intertwined with a national culture that prioritized competition, efficiency, and physical appearance, while also grappling with fears of hereditary defects and the degeneration of the American race. The restrictive immigration policies of the time reflected these broader cultural concerns and sought to maintain a certain image of the nation and its people.

By examining the history of immigration restriction and disability, Baynton offers a fresh perspective on the complex relationship between these two factors. He challenges the notion that disability was solely a medical condition and reveals how it was intertwined with broader social, economic, and cultural dynamics. Through his detailed analysis, Baynton sheds light on the ways in which immigration laws and policies have perpetuated stereotypes, discrimination, and marginalization of individuals with disabilities.

Defectives in the Land is a transformative work that contributes to our understanding of immigration history and the broader societal implications of excluding individuals based on disability. It prompts us to reevaluate our assumptions and biases about immigration and disability and to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226758633