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Hi, I'm Sarah Walsh, postdoctoral fellow at REGS.
I received my PhD from the University of Maryland in May of 2013, under the direction of Karen
Rosenblatt.
My dissertation examines the connection between Catholicism, eugenics, and gender in twentieth
century Chile.
Specifically, I examined a variety of Chilean intellectuals to demonstrate that they all
agreed that the purpose of eugenics was to create a social order based on natural hierarchy.
This focus on natural hierarchy allowed both secular and Catholic social reformers to come
to a agreements about what the purpose of eugenics was, what its parameters were, and
what its end results were as a discipline.
My dissertation demonstrated that though Chilean eugenics was unique, it was not flawed, in
comparison to the eugenics practiced in the North Atlantic.
Usually, Latin America is overlooked as a sight for historical enquiry regarding science
in general, and eugenics in particular, because Catholicism and eugenics are understood to
be diametrically opposed.
My research questions this notion, and contributes to a larger understanding of eugenics in the
Global South.
While at REGS, I hope to further explore my interest in the connections between eugenics,
Catholicism, and race.
You can read more about my work, and that of my colleagues, by following our blog at
bit.ly/regsblog.