BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Divorcing sex and reproduction: the discussion of artificial insem
 ination in Britain\, 1918–1948 - Angus McLaren (University of Victoria)
DTSTART:20091203T163000Z
DTEND:20091203T180000Z
UID:TALK20372@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Nick Hopwood
DESCRIPTION:A 1922 trial marked the first time in history that a common la
 w court dealt with the subject of artificial insemination. Why did the iss
 ue surface at this particular time? Seeking to provide some answers direct
 s our attention to the ways in which commentators in the inter-war years a
 ttributed enormous social significance to a rarely employed but simple for
 m of medical treatment. In the early twentieth century\, just as the subje
 ct of birth control split the medical world into radical and populist type
 s in favour of such discussions and the professional elite who were oppose
 d\, remarkably similar responses were made to the issue of artificial inse
 mination. Two additional points are made by extending our investigation in
 to the 1930s and 40s. The first\, which is hardly surprising\, is that a p
 rocedure welcomed by some as a remedy for the unhappily infertile was long
  regarded by others as posing a threat to Christian morality\, traditional
  gender relationships\, and the respectability of the medical profession. 
 The second and more unexpected finding is that such debates reveal the ext
 ent and tenacity of eugenic notions in Britain. Both opponents and defende
 rs of artificial insemination argued that they were motivated by a desire 
 to improve the race.\n\nThere will be tea before the lecture\, at 4pm in S
 eminar Room 1\, and a drinks reception afterwards\, at 6pm in Seminar Room
  1.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, History and Philosophy of Science\, Department o
 f
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR