Tommy Douglas writes his thesis, <i>The Problems of the Subnormal Family</i>

Tommy Douglas writes his thesis, The Problems of the Subnormal Family

1933. Thomas "Tommy" Douglas completes his Master's thesis for his Master of Arts at McMaster University. Entitled The Problems of the Subnormal Family, Douglas' thesis dealt with the issue of marriage in relation to mental health and heredity.

Douglas carried out the research for his thesis (a mix of genealogical or family study similar to Richard Dugdale’s The Jukes: A Study in Crime, Pauperism, Disease and Heredity (1877) and Henry H. Goddard’s The Kallikaks: A Study in the Heredity of Feeble-Mindedness(1912), with analysis of the lower classes (Dyck, 2013)) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. In his study, Douglas documented the lives of twelve women who were subnormal, and their family over multiple generations (Douglas, 1933). In order to qualify as subnormal, the women had to be "immoral" (engaged in activities such as prostitution), or "non-moral" (those who were manipulated by others through abuse or other means into immoral activities, but who otherwise might have no concept between good or bad decisions). In total, two hundred people were documented both mentally and physically, consisting of the initial women, their children, and grandchildren (Dyck, 2013).

The results from Douglas' study proposed these women had more problems in the way of higher rates of disease, mental illness, and criminality, as well as overall higher birthrates than their counterparts in the nearby community (Dyck, 2013 ; Lam, 2011). Douglas proposed that subnormality had both environmental and hereditary causes.

Douglas suggested many solutions to these problems would be necessary, including a combination of increased involvement on the part of government, Church, and the education system (Douglas, 1933 ; Dyck, 2013). He also proposed that all couples seeking to marry first undergo a mandatory certification process to determine whether they were mentally and morally fit (Lam, 2011). Douglas also suggested further education for the public on birth control, so that the lower classes might use it to help improve their own standing in society (Dyck, 2013). In terms of education, Douglas thought that specialized classrooms (and segregated ones by extension) for subnormals would help their needs and abilities be met more fully, following with the increased participation of subnormals in society (Dyck, 2013). The Church was suggested as a means of support, guidance, and acceptance for subnormal individuals - a view likely inspired by Douglas' studies in divinity as an undergraduate (Dyck, 2013). Douglas also trained to be a minister.

It is significant that Douglas did not endorse sterilization in his thesis, despite his examination of eugenic topics. Sterilization is only mentioned in one section of the study. In that context, it is only to be used as a last resort for the victims of abuse, the non-moral women (Douglas, 1933), if recommended by a physician. Douglas notes that "Many subnormal families whose intelligence is not of a high order are capable of raising useful citizens" (Douglas, 1933, p.26). Douglas' thesis endeavours to provide support systems and empowerment for "subnormals" and explored "the ways progressives adopted eugenics theories in western Canada before the Second World War” (Dyck, 2013, p.39).

When a bill to legalize eugenics sterilization was later presented to Douglas during his time as premier, he rejected it. (McLaren, 1990, pp. 7-9, 166-7)

Tommy Douglas went on to a prominent political career. He is best known as Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961, and is credited with introducing Canada's socialist health care system.

Douglas' thesis is accessible here.

-Leslie Baker, Colette Leung, Natalie Ball, and Amy Dyrbye

  • Douglas, T. (1933). The Problems of the Subnormal Family. (Master’s thesis). McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

  • McLaren, A. (1990). Our Own Master Race: Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc.

  • Douglas, T. (1933). The problem of the subnormal family. (Master's Thesis). Retrieved from Open Access Dissertations and Theses (Paper 2993).

  • Dyck, E. (2013). Facing Eugenics: Reproduction, Sterilization, and the Politics of Choice. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

  • Lam, V. (2011). Tommy Douglas: Extraordinary Canadians. Toronto: Penguin Canada.

Tommy Douglas writes his thesis, <i>The Problems of the Subnormal Family</i>

Tommy Douglas writes his thesis, The Problems of the Subnormal Family

1933. Thomas "Tommy" Douglas completes his Master's thesis for his Master of Arts at McMaster University. Entitled The Problems of the Subnormal Family, Douglas' thesis dealt with the issue of marriage in relation to mental health and heredity.

Douglas carried out the research for his thesis (a mix of genealogical or family study similar to Richard Dugdale’s The Jukes: A Study in Crime, Pauperism, Disease and Heredity (1877) and Henry H. Goddard’s The Kallikaks: A Study in the Heredity of Feeble-Mindedness(1912), with analysis of the lower classes (Dyck, 2013)) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. In his study, Douglas documented the lives of twelve women who were subnormal, and their family over multiple generations (Douglas, 1933). In order to qualify as subnormal, the women had to be "immoral" (engaged in activities such as prostitution), or "non-moral" (those who were manipulated by others through abuse or other means into immoral activities, but who otherwise might have no concept between good or bad decisions). In total, two hundred people were documented both mentally and physically, consisting of the initial women, their children, and grandchildren (Dyck, 2013).

The results from Douglas' study proposed these women had more problems in the way of higher rates of disease, mental illness, and criminality, as well as overall higher birthrates than their counterparts in the nearby community (Dyck, 2013 ; Lam, 2011). Douglas proposed that subnormality had both environmental and hereditary causes.

Douglas suggested many solutions to these problems would be necessary, including a combination of increased involvement on the part of government, Church, and the education system (Douglas, 1933 ; Dyck, 2013). He also proposed that all couples seeking to marry first undergo a mandatory certification process to determine whether they were mentally and morally fit (Lam, 2011). Douglas also suggested further education for the public on birth control, so that the lower classes might use it to help improve their own standing in society (Dyck, 2013). In terms of education, Douglas thought that specialized classrooms (and segregated ones by extension) for subnormals would help their needs and abilities be met more fully, following with the increased participation of subnormals in society (Dyck, 2013). The Church was suggested as a means of support, guidance, and acceptance for subnormal individuals - a view likely inspired by Douglas' studies in divinity as an undergraduate (Dyck, 2013). Douglas also trained to be a minister.

It is significant that Douglas did not endorse sterilization in his thesis, despite his examination of eugenic topics. Sterilization is only mentioned in one section of the study. In that context, it is only to be used as a last resort for the victims of abuse, the non-moral women (Douglas, 1933), if recommended by a physician. Douglas notes that "Many subnormal families whose intelligence is not of a high order are capable of raising useful citizens" (Douglas, 1933, p.26). Douglas' thesis endeavours to provide support systems and empowerment for "subnormals" and explored "the ways progressives adopted eugenics theories in western Canada before the Second World War” (Dyck, 2013, p.39).

When a bill to legalize eugenics sterilization was later presented to Douglas during his time as premier, he rejected it. (McLaren, 1990, pp. 7-9, 166-7)

Tommy Douglas went on to a prominent political career. He is best known as Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961, and is credited with introducing Canada's socialist health care system.

Douglas' thesis is accessible here.

-Leslie Baker, Colette Leung, Natalie Ball, and Amy Dyrbye

  • Douglas, T. (1933). The Problems of the Subnormal Family. (Master’s thesis). McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

  • McLaren, A. (1990). Our Own Master Race: Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc.

  • Douglas, T. (1933). The problem of the subnormal family. (Master's Thesis). Retrieved from Open Access Dissertations and Theses (Paper 2993).

  • Dyck, E. (2013). Facing Eugenics: Reproduction, Sterilization, and the Politics of Choice. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

  • Lam, V. (2011). Tommy Douglas: Extraordinary Canadians. Toronto: Penguin Canada.