Seminar: Arline Geronimus on Weathering

The Knight Science Journalism Program is excited to welcome Dr. Arline Geronimus for a discussion of her work on the health toll of discrimination on marginalized communities.

Dr. Arline T. Geronimus is a Professor of Health Education and Health Equity at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and a founding affiliate of the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Geronimus originated Weathering theory,  positing  that members of marginalized communities pay a high price in their health as they strive to cope with and overcome structured injustice in their daily rounds.  She identifies historical, political, ideological and social dynamics that activate the weathering process in our bodies,  as well as the material, environmental, health system, social psychological and human biological mechanisms through which weathering exacts its toll on health. Pointing to collective strategies marginalized communities employ to mitigate, resist, or undo weathering, she considers the trade-offs these strategies reflect and the perturbations public policy per usual poses to community-engaged  protections. Her award-winning book, WEATHERING: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society, outlines Weathering theory, the four decades of research that supports it, and its consequences for the health of women, children and families,  offering a roadmap toward hope, joy,  healing and authenticity in our multicultural society.

Please contact Learning and Events Coordinator Claire Sadar if you are interested in attending.