--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: widespread. Some states go so far as to…" description: "\"“widespread. Some states go so far as to forcibly sterilize people with certain disabilities. Some prohibit marriage for the genetically disabled, for ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/ben-mattlin-78611_civil-rights_widespread-some-states-go-so-far-as-to-f_2001691.jpg" --- # widespread. Some states go so far as to forcibly sterilize… ![“widespread. Some states go so far as to forcibly sterilize people with certain disabilities. Some prohibit marriage for the genetically disabled, for fear of procreating hereditary conditions like mine. Visibly disabled people are actually barred from appearing in public in cities such as…” quote by Ben Mattlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/ben-mattlin-78611_civil-rights_widespread-some-states-go-so-far-as-to-f_2001691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/ben-mattlin-78611_civil-rights_widespread-some-states-go-so-far-as-to-f_2001691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/ben-mattlin-78611_civil-rights_widespread-some-states-go-so-far-as-to-f_2001691.jpg) > ““widespread. Some states go so far as to forcibly sterilize people with certain disabilities. Some prohibit marriage for the genetically disabled, for fear of procreating hereditary conditions like mine. Visibly disabled people are actually barred from appearing in public in cities such as Columbus, Ohio—Dad’s hometown—until 1972, and Chicago until 1974, under what are collectively called the “ugly” laws because they target anyone perceived as unattractive, for being a disturbance of the peace. The movement to change all this and more is rising in discrete pockets all over, inspired by Black civil rights. Closer to”” Ben Mattlin ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage critiques discriminatory laws targeting disabled people, exposing how “ugly” statutes and forced sterilization reflect deep‑seated prejudice and the need for civil‑rights‑driven reform. **In simple terms:** Discriminatory laws marginalize disabled individuals. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal rights and inclusion. Themes disability rights civil rights legal injustice social stigma Mood empathetic determined hopeful Type activist educational political When to use this quote - policy reform - public awareness - legal challenges - community support - advocacy training Key Concepts human rights law disability studies social justice Questions to Reflect On - What steps can dismantle entrenched ableist policies? - How can allies support disabled communities? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex legal histories and regional variations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Disabled People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled-people/) ## Related quotes > [As people live longer, disability becomes more of an issue. And there seems to be more children born with a disability. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-ruderman/as-people-live-longer-disability-becomes-more-of-an-issue-and-there/) [Jay Ruderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-ruderman/) > [“Barbara brings her chair close to mine. She says that, to the outside world, suicide could seem a rational choice for someone like her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mattlin/barbara-brings-her-chair-close-to-mine-she-says-that-to-the-outside/) Ben Mattlin > [Disability is everywhere. It's just something that happens. It could happen to friends, family, loved ones. It could happen to you. I mean after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/disability-is-everywhere-it-s-just-something-that-happens-it-could/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [My message is not just to disabled people, but to everyone: You have to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-du-toit/my-message-is-not-just-to-disabled-people-but-to-everyone-you-have-to/) [Natalie du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-du-toit/) > [“If you are disabled, it is probably not your fault, but it is no good blaming the world or expecting it to take pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/if-you-are-disabled-it-is-probably-not-your-fault-but-it-is-no-good/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Disabled people need more invested in their education, housing, job training, transportation, assistive technology, and independent-living facilities. Governments earn back this investment - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/disabled-people-need-more-invested-in-their-education-housing-job/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [The world worries about disability more than disabled people do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/the-world-worries-about-disability-more-than-disabled-people-do/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [As I get older and mature and see the world, I think it's really rewarding to have people take inspiration - I hate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/as-i-get-older-and-mature-and-see-the-world-i-think-it-s-really/) [Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/) > [It's hard enough for disabled people to get acting jobs without able-bodied people taking them. As an actor, I know that I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/it-s-hard-enough-for-disabled-people-to-get-acting-jobs-without-able/) [Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/) > [“A lot of disabled people probably died in hurricane Ian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/a-lot-of-disabled-people-probably-died-in-hurricane-ian/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When we talk about diversity, sometimes I see things on Twitter about a panel on diversity or a think tank that's been created, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/when-we-talk-about-diversity-sometimes-i-see-things-on-twitter-about/) [Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/) > [We think we know what it's all about; we think that disability is a really simple thing, and we don't expect to see disabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/we-think-we-know-what-it-s-all-about-we-think-that-disability-is-a/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [It happens a lot every four years, or it used to, every time the Paralympics comes around. They'll be like: 'We've had this idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/it-happens-a-lot-every-four-years-or-it-used-to-every-time-the/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [I have joined the BJP to help disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/i-have-joined-the-bjp-to-help-disabled-people/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) ## More by Ben Mattlin > [“In 1996, when Senator Bob Dole runs against President Clinton, it’s a historic moment for people with disabilities. No one with a visible disability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mattlin/in-1996-when-senator-bob-dole-runs-against-president-clinton-it-s-a/) Ben Mattlin > [“Barbara brings her chair close to mine. She says that, to the outside world, suicide could seem a rational choice for someone like her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mattlin/barbara-brings-her-chair-close-to-mine-she-says-that-to-the-outside/) Ben Mattlin Explore all 3 Ben Mattlin quotes ## More Breeding quotes > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. Beginning in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-loconte/galton-s-gospel-of-eugenics-found-fertile-soil-in-britain-in-the/) Joseph Loconte > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Exchange of breeding individuals between two populations tends to homogenize their gene pools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-grant/exchange-of-breeding-individuals-between-two-populations-tends-to/) [Peter R. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-grant/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The right to live does not connote the right of each man to reproduce his kind ... As we lessen the stringency of natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pearson/the-right-to-live-does-not-connote-the-right-of-each-man-to-reproduce/) [Karl Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pearson/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [Easy writing's curst hard reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/easy-writing-s-curst-hard-reading/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Organized charity itself is. . . the surest sign that our civilization has bred, is breeding and is perpetuating constantly increasing numbers of defectives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/organized-charity-itself-is-the-surest-sign-that-our-civilization-has/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [I think it is more of an intuitive, circular kind of personality, for starters. And, as I say of horses, the secret to breeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walton/i-think-it-is-more-of-an-intuitive-circular-kind-of-personality-for/) Alice Walton > [Well, puppy mills are - it's just a name given to really, really bad dog breeding facilities and sadly, we have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-trump/well-puppy-mills-are-it-s-just-a-name-given-to-really-really-bad-dog/) [Lara Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-trump/) Browse all 411 Breeding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“widespread. Some states go so far as to forcibly sterilize people with certain disabilities. Some prohibit marriage for the genetically disabled, for fear of procreating hereditary conditions like mine. 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