Framing the moron : the social construction of feeble-mindedness in the American eugenic era / Gerald V. O'Brien.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Brien, Gerald, 1958- author.

Series:

Disability history.

Disability history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Eugenics in mass media.

Eugenics--United States--History--20th century.

Eugenics.

Propaganda, American.

Metaphor--Social aspects--United States.

Metaphor.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 203 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2013.

Summary:

This title details the variety of dehumanizing and fear-inducing rhetoric employed by the American eugenic movement during the early twentieth century, which led to tens of thousands of innocent people being involuntarily sterilized, forced into institutions, and otherwise maltreated.

Contents:

Cover

Framing the moron

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 Metaphors and the dehumanization of marginalized groups

2 The organism metaphor: the moron as a diseased entity

3 The animal metaphor: the moron as an atavistic subhuman

4 The war and natural catastrophe metaphors: the moron as an enemy force

5 The religious and altruistic metaphors: the moron as an immoral sinner and an object of protection

6 The object metaphor: the moron as a poorly functioning human

7 Conclusion

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (viewed on May 21, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

1-5261-0342-7

9781526103437

OCLC:

960166184