Lecture Notes on Scientific Racism and Social Determinants of Health

A collection of flashcards to aid in studying key concepts from the lecture notes regarding scientific racism, social determinants of health, Foucault's theories, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

What is scientific racism?

The use of genomic science and biotechnology to reinforce racial categorization and justify healthcare disparities. Examples include the 20th-century eugenics movement and the attempts by scientists to define race as a biological category despite the Human Genome Project proving that humans are 99.9% genetically identical.

What is BiDil, and why is it controversial?

It is a heart failure drug approved by the FDA for Black patients, seen as an instance of race-based medicine reinforcing biological race myths.

How have forensic DNA technologies contributed to racial typologies?

They are used by law enforcement to classify suspects by race, entrenching racial categories.

How are social determinants of health (SDOH) defined?

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age as shaped by economic, social, and political forces. These determinants are fundamental to health outcomes and health disparities. 

What are upstream and downstream factors in the context of SDOH?

Upstream determinants are "fundamental drivers" of health conditions, such as laws, policies, and systemic inequalities that shape social and economic opportunities. Downstream determinants are more immediate influences, like environmental hazards, housing quality, and health behaviors.

What metaphor is used to explain the upstream/downstream framework?

the metaphor of a river contaminated by a factory upstream, where downstream solutions (e.g., buying bottled water) are less effective than addressing the upstream source of pollution (e.g., stopping the factory from dumping toxins).

How does Foucault define discourse?

As a system of representation that produces knowledge and regulates social practices.

What is the relationship between power and knowledge according to Foucault?

Knowledge creates power; it is used to regulate and discipline behavior.

What role does the 'subject' play in Foucault's theories?

It is produced within discourse and constructed by power/knowledge relations.

What is the outbreak narrative?

A formulaic story about an infectious disease's emergence, the trace of its spread, and containment, often reflecting societal anxieties. This narrative is shaped by scientific, journalistic, and fictional accounts, and it often features figures like "superspreaders" (e.g., Typhoid Mary, Patient Zero) who embody the dangers of contagion.

What do 'geographies of blame' refer to in the context of the AIDS epidemic?

The scapegoating of marginalized populations, like the 4-H Club: homosexuals, haemophiliacs, heroin addicts and Haitians.

How did media narratives frame AIDS in the context of Black politics?

They often depicted AIDS as primarily a white gay issue, delaying mobilization within Black communities.

What role did Black gay activists play in HIV/AIDS awareness?

They were instrumental in early advocacy efforts and challenged mainstream narratives about the disease.

How did poetry serve the Black community in the context of AIDS?

Writers like Essex Hemphill and Assotto Saint used poetry to document experiences and confront stigma.

What impact did video culture have on AIDS activism?

It preserved community narratives and resisted the erasure of Black experiences related to HIV/AIDS.