Medicalization of race
Many scientists argue that the concept of ‘race’ has no biological meaning and that
racial classification is a social construct that perpetuates harmful inequities. Others
contend that racial groups can genetically differ from one another and that the differences
can have medical importance. In November, professors from the University of California
and University of Southern California – including UCI’s Michael Montoya, anthropologist
– gathered to debate the issue at the California Science Center’s “Science Matters”
program. Moderated by Tavis Smiley, host of the late night television talk show Tavis
Smiley on PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show by Public Radio International (PRI), the program
explored policy implications of racial categorization in medical research and attracted
more than 600 attendees.
Listen to their discussion online at http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/guests09/121809/Medicalization.html.