- Dec 20, 2019
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Back in high school, I remember checking out a dystopian novel from the library and reading it cover to cover in a week. Books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver spark curiosity about societies that mirror our own. Though each book has a unique plot, they all share the common theme of population control. In these stories, characters often face situations where society accepts or values only those with certain “desirable” traits. Failure to meet such traits resulted in death or some other form of exclusion. I used to read these stories and think, “What would I do in a society with rampant population control? How could I stand up for myself or others devalued because of certain traits?” I now realize with sorrow that I live in a world where population control is masked as “reproductive rights.”
Population control is the use of policies, rewards, and punishments to manage how fast or slow a population grows. Population control studies trace back to the 18th century, including theories by Thomas Robert Malthus. The Malthus theory argued that population grows with subsistence unless limited by a powerful deterrent.
Nazi Germany is a stark example of population control, with Hitler aiming to eliminate the Jewish population through sterilization, euthanasia, and ultimately, death camps. Why, then, one may ask, is the resource-rich United States projected to see a population decline in the coming decades? What powerful and prominent source could be contributing to our shrinking population? Why are some populations larger than others in the US? Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and abortion may be the very culprits of our modern population control.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment where doctors combine an egg and sperm to create an embryo, which is then implanted in the uterus. IVF has been successful for decades, resulting in over 8 million babies born in the US alone. However, the practice raises ethical concerns, especially regarding eugenics and embryo selection.
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is a process that can be used on embryos in the IVF process to identify genetic disorders and determine gender. PGT enables population control by allowing parents to select embryos based on preferred traits while discarding those without such desirability.
In 2018, about 75% of U.S. clinics offered sex selection, allowing parents to choose male or female embryos, raising gender bias concerns. On a larger scale, society often pressures the termination of embryos found to possess genetic disabilities after PGT. About 30% of US genetic professionals offer biased termination counseling, while 20% of ENE geneticists believe it’s unfair to have a child with a genetic disorder, given PGT availability.
Many geneticists agree that a key goal in PGT is to reduce the number of harmful or disabled genes in the world. This mentality suggests that society sees people with disabilities as unwanted, contradicting the pro-life belief that all life is valuable. Prenatal counseling often shows able-bodied parents negative disability stereotypes and rarely provides resources or real-life examples. This results in a systematic bias against the birth of disabled children and is, therefore, a means of population control.
As the biggest abortion provider in the country, Planned Parenthood’s eugenic roots must be recognized to explain the connection between abortion and population control accurately. Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood and advocated for population control through birth control and forced sterilization. According to the Planned Parenthood website itself, “Sanger believed in eugenics – an inherently racist and ableist ideology that labeled certain people unfit to have children.”
She believed the country suffered from unchecked reproductive rates, particularly in impoverished communities with limited access to healthcare. Her solution was to segregate and sterilize members of said communities to prevent further reproduction of their “imbecile children.” In 1939, she partnered with the BFCA to create the “Negro Project,” establishing “family planning centers” in minority neighborhoods to reduce the African American population. In the words of Sanger herself, “Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.”
Unfortunately, not much has changed since Sanger’s time. One study found that 62% of Planned Parenthood’s surgical abortion facilities are near African American or minority neighborhoods. Another study found that black women have the highest abortion rate in the US, with 474 abortions per 1,000 live births. The abortion industry disproportionately affects those in poverty, with women below the federal poverty level having abortion rates nearly 6 times greater than those above it. In that same breath, abortion targets people with disabilities, namely those with Down syndrome. Studies estimate that abortion rates range from 67% to 85% among people with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Margaret Sanger’s legacy of population control targeting groups outside the middle-to-upper-class, white, and non-disabled populations seems to persist.
While these findings are disheartening, there is hope for a future without population control through PGT and abortion. For starters, spreading the truth about these issues helps debunk the continued lies of these eugenic industries. Continue educating ourselves on these injustices and sharing what we’ve learned. Proverbs 4:7 highlights the value of education, saying, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
Donating time or money to organizations supporting minority or disabled groups also helps families choose life. Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) especially support abortion-vulnerable populations by providing life-saving services and resources to families. A recent study found that PRCs currently outnumber abortion facilities by approximately 3 to 1. Imagine how many lives could be saved if more funding went to PRCs instead of abortion facilities. Recognizing the value of marriage and procreation can also help society realign with life-affirming beliefs. All in all, change starts with us. We can make a difference in ending these harmful population control tactics.
See Life – A Focus ministry provides needed equipment and training for pregnancy medical centers.
Alternatives To Abortion: Pregnancy Resource Centers
Pregnancy Care Organization Programs
Where Can I Find Information Specifically for Pregnancy Resource Centers?
Approaching The Abortion Issue With love, Grace, Truth and Forgiveness
Three Hundred Planned Parenthood Employees Admit Margaret Sanger Was “Racist”
Abortion’s Impact on The Black Community
The History of Abortion
Overpopulation and Abortion
Frozen Embryos: Ethical Issues, Cryopreservation Risks, and IVF
The Hunger Games — “Hunger Games” Series
Divergent
The Giver — “The Giver Quartet” Series
The post Population Control – A Result of PGT and Abortion appeared first on Focus on the Family.
Continue reading...
What is Population Control?
Population control is the use of policies, rewards, and punishments to manage how fast or slow a population grows. Population control studies trace back to the 18th century, including theories by Thomas Robert Malthus. The Malthus theory argued that population grows with subsistence unless limited by a powerful deterrent.
Nazi Germany is a stark example of population control, with Hitler aiming to eliminate the Jewish population through sterilization, euthanasia, and ultimately, death camps. Why, then, one may ask, is the resource-rich United States projected to see a population decline in the coming decades? What powerful and prominent source could be contributing to our shrinking population? Why are some populations larger than others in the US? Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and abortion may be the very culprits of our modern population control.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment where doctors combine an egg and sperm to create an embryo, which is then implanted in the uterus. IVF has been successful for decades, resulting in over 8 million babies born in the US alone. However, the practice raises ethical concerns, especially regarding eugenics and embryo selection.
PGT and Population Control
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is a process that can be used on embryos in the IVF process to identify genetic disorders and determine gender. PGT enables population control by allowing parents to select embryos based on preferred traits while discarding those without such desirability.
PGT Stats
In 2018, about 75% of U.S. clinics offered sex selection, allowing parents to choose male or female embryos, raising gender bias concerns. On a larger scale, society often pressures the termination of embryos found to possess genetic disabilities after PGT. About 30% of US genetic professionals offer biased termination counseling, while 20% of ENE geneticists believe it’s unfair to have a child with a genetic disorder, given PGT availability.
Many geneticists agree that a key goal in PGT is to reduce the number of harmful or disabled genes in the world. This mentality suggests that society sees people with disabilities as unwanted, contradicting the pro-life belief that all life is valuable. Prenatal counseling often shows able-bodied parents negative disability stereotypes and rarely provides resources or real-life examples. This results in a systematic bias against the birth of disabled children and is, therefore, a means of population control.
Planned Parenthood and Population Control
As the biggest abortion provider in the country, Planned Parenthood’s eugenic roots must be recognized to explain the connection between abortion and population control accurately. Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood and advocated for population control through birth control and forced sterilization. According to the Planned Parenthood website itself, “Sanger believed in eugenics – an inherently racist and ableist ideology that labeled certain people unfit to have children.”
She believed the country suffered from unchecked reproductive rates, particularly in impoverished communities with limited access to healthcare. Her solution was to segregate and sterilize members of said communities to prevent further reproduction of their “imbecile children.” In 1939, she partnered with the BFCA to create the “Negro Project,” establishing “family planning centers” in minority neighborhoods to reduce the African American population. In the words of Sanger herself, “Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.”
Nothing Is New
Unfortunately, not much has changed since Sanger’s time. One study found that 62% of Planned Parenthood’s surgical abortion facilities are near African American or minority neighborhoods. Another study found that black women have the highest abortion rate in the US, with 474 abortions per 1,000 live births. The abortion industry disproportionately affects those in poverty, with women below the federal poverty level having abortion rates nearly 6 times greater than those above it. In that same breath, abortion targets people with disabilities, namely those with Down syndrome. Studies estimate that abortion rates range from 67% to 85% among people with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Margaret Sanger’s legacy of population control targeting groups outside the middle-to-upper-class, white, and non-disabled populations seems to persist.
Combating Population Control Through Education
While these findings are disheartening, there is hope for a future without population control through PGT and abortion. For starters, spreading the truth about these issues helps debunk the continued lies of these eugenic industries. Continue educating ourselves on these injustices and sharing what we’ve learned. Proverbs 4:7 highlights the value of education, saying, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
Supporting Life Through PRC’s
Donating time or money to organizations supporting minority or disabled groups also helps families choose life. Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) especially support abortion-vulnerable populations by providing life-saving services and resources to families. A recent study found that PRCs currently outnumber abortion facilities by approximately 3 to 1. Imagine how many lives could be saved if more funding went to PRCs instead of abortion facilities. Recognizing the value of marriage and procreation can also help society realign with life-affirming beliefs. All in all, change starts with us. We can make a difference in ending these harmful population control tactics.
Additional Resources
See Life – A Focus ministry provides needed equipment and training for pregnancy medical centers.
Alternatives To Abortion: Pregnancy Resource Centers
Pregnancy Care Organization Programs
Where Can I Find Information Specifically for Pregnancy Resource Centers?
Approaching The Abortion Issue With love, Grace, Truth and Forgiveness
Three Hundred Planned Parenthood Employees Admit Margaret Sanger Was “Racist”
Abortion’s Impact on The Black Community
The History of Abortion
Overpopulation and Abortion
Frozen Embryos: Ethical Issues, Cryopreservation Risks, and IVF
The Hunger Games — “Hunger Games” Series
Divergent
The Giver — “The Giver Quartet” Series
The post Population Control – A Result of PGT and Abortion appeared first on Focus on the Family.
Continue reading...