Práticas eugênicas, medicina social e família no Brasil republicano

Abstract

In the beginnings of 20th century, the urban-industrial development and the arrival of great masses of immigrants transformed the life of the inhabitants of cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Hygienists, alienists and eugenists thought it necessary to fight against the so-called social poisons which had been brought by the disorganization of urban space; to achieve this goal, they began a true eugenical crusade. Etched on the Social Medicine, this compaign widens from the 30s on and its meaning must be understood in the light of the elaboration of a family policy during the Getúlio Vargas government. One of the measures of eugenization of Brazilian society would be the settlement of the obligatory pre marital exam, to ensure the formation of a family with healthy offspring. The Catholic Church was opposed to this and to other measures, such as the childbirth control, because they thought these measures were hindrance to the natural evolution of families. To eugenists, schools should be essential spaces for the development of an eugenical mentality. The Army, another instance of power, considered itself the most important factor in the eugenization of social organism, because it look care of health, fitness and infused good hygienic habits among its soldiers.