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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
08:13
Using the Race Model Inequality to Quantify Behavioral Multisensory Integration Effects
Published on: May 10, 2019
The bare bones of race.
1Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Anne_Fausto-Sterling@brown.edu
Social Studies of Science
|February 21, 2009
Summary
This study critiques the concept of race in medicine, arguing that social factors shape biological differences in bone density. It proposes a new framework to understand health disparities by considering ancestry, lifecycle, race, and gender.
Area of Science:
- Sociobiology
- Medical Anthropology
- Genetics
Background:
- The concept of race is frequently used in medical research to explain biological variations.
- Existing definitions of race in medicine often lack a strong theoretical or empirical foundation.
- This study questions the biological basis of race and its application in understanding health.
Observation:
- Claims of racial differences in bone density are examined.
- The study highlights the lack of theoretical grounding for race definitions in medicine.
- The interplay between social experience and biological outcomes is observed.
Findings:
- The biological is produced by the social through a feedback loop between the body and lived experiences.
- Race, as commonly defined in medicine, is not a robust biological determinant.
- Social and environmental factors significantly influence biological traits like bone density.
Implications:
- Shifts focus from a nature vs. nurture debate to a more holistic understanding of health.
- Advocates for a new paradigm integrating geographic ancestry, lifecycle, race, and gender in health research.
- Aims to improve the understanding of health and disease patterns across diverse populations.
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