Challenging Richard Dawkins' Views on Down Syndrome
Written on
Understanding the Controversy
On August 20, 2014, prominent atheist and ethologist Richard Dawkins sparked outrage on Twitter when he suggested that a woman should consider aborting her child if it were diagnosed with Down Syndrome. He controversially claimed it would be unethical for her to raise such a child. This remark triggered what Dawkins mockingly referred to as "a new feeding frenzy," framing himself as the target of undue criticism.
Following the backlash, Dawkins attributed his controversial advice to the limitations of Twitter's character count, later offering a lengthy but insincere "apology" on his blog. To provide context, here’s a full excerpt of his statement:
“Clearly, the decision would ultimately be yours. For what it’s worth, my personal choice would be to terminate a Down Syndrome fetus and, if you desire to have a child, try again. Given the option of an early abortion or intentionally bringing a Down child into the world, I believe the ethical and rational choice would be to abort. The majority of women in both America and Europe make similar choices. I would argue that if your moral framework aims to enhance happiness and lessen suffering, opting to give birth to a Down child when an early abortion is possible could be seen as unethical regarding the child's welfare. Although I recognize that my viewpoint is contentious and warrants further discussion, it’s important to note that you might be committing to a lifetime of care for an adult child with needs akin to those of an infant. If your child were to outlive you, the anxiety of who would care for them would be an ongoing concern. It's no surprise that most people choose abortion when given the option. Nonetheless, the decision remains entirely yours, and I would never dream of imposing my beliefs on you or anyone else.”
Dawkins' perspective is not only profoundly ableist, but it is also factually flawed. Research indicates that individuals with Down Syndrome generally report higher levels of happiness than the average population. A survey conducted in 2013 revealed that 99% of respondents with Down Syndrome expressed satisfaction with their lives. They consistently reported positive feelings about their relationships and self-image.
While the stereotype that individuals with Down Syndrome are perpetually happy may lead some to incorrectly assume they lack the capacity for other emotions, the survey findings contradict Dawkins' assertions. If his true aim is to foster greater happiness, he should advocate for families to embrace having children with Down Syndrome. This notion is supported by the families of individuals with Down Syndrome, who do not necessarily experience greater emotional distress than those raising neurotypical children.
Even if Dawkins' claims about the happiness levels of people with Down Syndrome were accurate, would that justify their "elimination"? Pain and suffering are inherent to human existence. Conversations with the parents of children with Down Syndrome reveal a deep commitment to their children, one that Dawkins' comments seem to disregard.
Confronting Dawkins
On May 11, 2021, during an interview on the Irish RTÉ radio station, host Brendan O’Connor, a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, challenged Dawkins on his previous comments. Dawkins reiterated his stance but replaced the term "immoral" with "wise and sensible," admitting he had no empirical evidence to support his claims.
Dawkins is correct that a significant number of Down Syndrome pregnancies in North America and Europe end in abortion. For instance, in Denmark, 98% of such pregnancies are terminated. In Iceland, the government has boasted about virtually eliminating Down Syndrome, a claim that stems from nearly universal termination of pregnancies identified with this condition after prenatal testing. Experts suggest that societal pressure, including medical recommendations, plays a role in these high termination rates.
The stigma associated with Down Syndrome influences parental decisions to terminate pregnancies, often fueled by the "medical" advice provided by healthcare professionals. Although a small number of children with Down Syndrome continue to be born in Iceland, the prevailing belief that they represent a condition needing "cure" is deeply concerning, especially considering the dark historical lineage of such ideologies.
The Eugenics Movement
Francis Galton, the originator of the term "eugenics," was an anthropologist and a relative of Charles Darwin. He became fixated on the concept of crafting a utopian society through "selective parenthood," advocating for the propagation of desirable traits while eliminating those deemed undesirable.
Galton's ideas rapidly gained traction among elite intellectual circles in Europe, leading to the establishment of eugenics programs. Using unfounded pseudoscientific claims and white supremacist ideologies, these groups argued that societal advancement necessitated the eradication of racial minorities and individuals with disabilities. These assertions were often linked to the discredited theory o