The Colombian Healthy Child Contest

In search of Latin America's "ideal child" in the 1930s

Bibliographic Data

ID3100142
AuthorsIván Darío Olaya Peláez (0000-0002-2785-3770, Université Le Havre, France, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume30
Pagese2023005-e2023005
Publication date2023-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistória Ciências Saúde-Manguinhos (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0104-5970 • E-ISSN: 1678-4758
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0104-59702023000100005en
PMID37018780
OpenAlexW4362647814
SCIELO_PIDS0104-59702023000100203
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited15

This article analyzes healthy child contests as a medical and socio-political strategy implemented in Latin America to protect childhood, thus ensuring the future of the "race" and the nation. These contests blended degeneration, racial theories, and state interventionism and gained momentum in the 1930s with the rise of eugenics. This article examines the contest in Colombia, which was implemented under the Liberal Republic (1930-1946); even though this competition was defined by its national context, a broader international perspective improves understanding. Questions are also raised about the efforts of the Liberal government to strengthen the idea of national identity through education and health programs

CONTEST · Economic growth · Economics · Eugenics · Government (linguistics) · Latin Americans · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Gender Studies · Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes · History of Medicine and Tropical Health · Law · Medicine and Dermatology Studies History · Public Administration

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