Historical analysis of the acceptance of amniocentesis and the social policy "The movement for preventing birth of disabled children" : Social-structural factors from the mid-1960s to 1970s in Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the socio-structural factors of eugenic policy from the mid-1960s to eprly-1970s in Japan through analyzing "The movement for preventing birth of disabled children" of local governments which was intended to prevent births of disabled children. The main point is that this social policy was a turning point in the process of transforming eugenic policy in Japan. I also clarify this process by analyzing the social context in which this eugenic policy was "needed" to prevent "disabled children" from being born the socio-structural factors to make it possible.