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Sweden

The Swedish Parliament passed a sterilization law in 1934 (in effect January 1, 1935) which approved the sterilization, without consent if necessary, of people who suffered from insanity, feeblemindedness and other mental disorders (Von Hofsten, 1938, p. 257). When the Swedish Democratic Party passed the Sterilization Act of 1934, it enjoyed broad support from other political parties and the Lutheran church. Sterilizations began in 1935, peaking in 1946 and continued until 1976; throughout this time, it is estimated that 63,000 individuals were sterilized (Broberg, 1996) —more than any other European state with the exception of Nazi Germany. Women were predominantly targeted, making up 90 percent of the cases. Some historians hypothesize that this is because eugenic practice reflected male standards of biological and social normality, and that statistical deviance, measured against this, affected women more.

In 1997, Maciej Zaremba published a series of articles in the Dagens Nyhet, a Swedish newspaper, about Sweden’s history of forced sterilization and eugenics (Broberg and Tyden, 1999). This sparked debate not only in Sweden but around the world, as the history of eugenics in many other countries, such as Norway, Japan and Switzerland became known to the public for the first time. As a result, the Swedish government set up a state commission to investigate the history of sterilization (Broberg and Tyden, 1999). Through this commission, the government concluded that those sterilised without their consent should receive reparations (Tomasovic, 2009, p. 61). A reparation act was adopted and an identical sum for all cases was proposed; almost 1,600 persons affected received compensation of 175,000 Swedish crowns between 1999 and 2002 (Tomasovic, 2009, p. 61; The New York Times, 1999).

Although sterilization legislation was changed in the 1970s, statutes on sexual identity remained the same. These statutes required any person who legally wanted to change their sex had to be sterilized (Nelson, 2013). The Swedish Parliament fought to repeal the law in 2012, but it was turned down. It was not until January 2013 that the law was repealed. Approximately 500 people have undergone forced sterilization under this law, many of who are now demanding compensation (Nelson, 2013).

Sixteen European countries, as of 2013, still required transgendered people to be sterilized before they undergo gender reassignment surgery; this includes France, Portugal and Italy. In Denmark, the Netherlands and Portugal, the laws were under review as of early 2013 (Nelson, 2013).

-Laura Shaw and Erna Kurbegovic

Sweden

The Swedish Parliament passed a sterilization law in 1934 (in effect January 1, 1935) which approved the sterilization, without consent if necessary, of people who suffered from insanity, feeblemindedness and other mental disorders (Von Hofsten, 1938, p. 257). When the Swedish Democratic Party passed the Sterilization Act of 1934, it enjoyed broad support from other political parties and the Lutheran church. Sterilizations began in 1935, peaking in 1946 and continued until 1976; throughout this time, it is estimated that 63,000 individuals were sterilized (Broberg, 1996) —more than any other European state with the exception of Nazi Germany. Women were predominantly targeted, making up 90 percent of the cases. Some historians hypothesize that this is because eugenic practice reflected male standards of biological and social normality, and that statistical deviance, measured against this, affected women more.

In 1997, Maciej Zaremba published a series of articles in the Dagens Nyhet, a Swedish newspaper, about Sweden’s history of forced sterilization and eugenics (Broberg and Tyden, 1999). This sparked debate not only in Sweden but around the world, as the history of eugenics in many other countries, such as Norway, Japan and Switzerland became known to the public for the first time. As a result, the Swedish government set up a state commission to investigate the history of sterilization (Broberg and Tyden, 1999). Through this commission, the government concluded that those sterilised without their consent should receive reparations (Tomasovic, 2009, p. 61). A reparation act was adopted and an identical sum for all cases was proposed; almost 1,600 persons affected received compensation of 175,000 Swedish crowns between 1999 and 2002 (Tomasovic, 2009, p. 61; The New York Times, 1999).

Although sterilization legislation was changed in the 1970s, statutes on sexual identity remained the same. These statutes required any person who legally wanted to change their sex had to be sterilized (Nelson, 2013). The Swedish Parliament fought to repeal the law in 2012, but it was turned down. It was not until January 2013 that the law was repealed. Approximately 500 people have undergone forced sterilization under this law, many of who are now demanding compensation (Nelson, 2013).

Sixteen European countries, as of 2013, still required transgendered people to be sterilized before they undergo gender reassignment surgery; this includes France, Portugal and Italy. In Denmark, the Netherlands and Portugal, the laws were under review as of early 2013 (Nelson, 2013).

-Laura Shaw and Erna Kurbegovic