Alexa S. Dietrich
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814724996
- eISBN:
- 9780814724644
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814724996.003.0007
- Subject:
- Anthropology, Medical Anthropology
This chapter returns to the core issue of environmental impacts on health and brings forward the pervasive problem for activists, residents, and pharmaceutical employees alike: the knowledge required ...
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This chapter returns to the core issue of environmental impacts on health and brings forward the pervasive problem for activists, residents, and pharmaceutical employees alike: the knowledge required to prove that there is a relationship between the environment and poor health is in the hands of “experts,” many of whom are in some way beholden to the industry. Those who are not beholden often have “captured” perspectives: their sincere beliefs, built upon the perceived economic necessity of the drug companies, lead them to discount evidence and experience presented by non-expert citizens. Given these issues, this chapter suggests strategies through which activists and educators can work to promote a more equitable redistribution and production of knowledge.Less
This chapter returns to the core issue of environmental impacts on health and brings forward the pervasive problem for activists, residents, and pharmaceutical employees alike: the knowledge required to prove that there is a relationship between the environment and poor health is in the hands of “experts,” many of whom are in some way beholden to the industry. Those who are not beholden often have “captured” perspectives: their sincere beliefs, built upon the perceived economic necessity of the drug companies, lead them to discount evidence and experience presented by non-expert citizens. Given these issues, this chapter suggests strategies through which activists and educators can work to promote a more equitable redistribution and production of knowledge.
