America has woken up to what many of its citizens have known for centuries and to what public health statistics have evidenced for decades: systemic injustice takes a physical, too often deadly, toll on Black, brown, working class and poor communities, and any group who experiences systemic cultural oppression or economic exploitation. Marginalized Americans are disproportionately more likely to suffer from chronic diseases and to die at much younger ages than their middle- and upper-class white counterparts. Black mothers die during childbirth at a rate three times higher than white mothers. White kids in high-poverty Appalachian regions have a healthy life expectancy of 50 years old, while the vast majority of US youth can expect to both survive and be able-bodied at 50, with decades of healthy life expectancy ahead of them. In the face of such clear inequity, we must ask ourselves why this is, and what we can we do.
Dr. Arline T. Geronimus coined the term “weathering” to describe the effects of systemic oppression—including racism and classism—on the body. In Weathering, based on more than 30 years of research, she argues that health and aging have more to do with how society treats us than how well we take care of ourselves. She explains what happens to human bodies as they attempt to withstand and overcome the challenges and insults that society leverages at them, and details how this process ravages their health. And she proposes solutions.
Until now, there has been little discussion about the insidious effects of social injustice on the body. Weathering shifts the paradigm, shining a light on the topic and offering a roadmap for hope.
ashnic917 –
I have been a fan of Dr. Geronimus’s since I was in my doctoral program. I used the weathering hypothesis as a guide for my own dissertation research, and as a Black woman, it is affirming to have scholarly reads such as this book to speak to the challenges and effects of racism on our health. W.E.B. Du Bois named social conditions as the contributing cause of health disparities in 1899, and this book expands on that by naming the health implications of social policy action (and inaction). It will be a good read for anyone interested in examining how America is not set up to promote health and well-being for anyone, but least of all, people with minoritized identities. Job well done!
Considers the evidence –
@Valuegal and for those who read that review. I read the entire book. It is chock full of evidence. The quote is from the intro, not the substantive chapters. I read it as Dr. G providing the reader a sense of how she was drawn to this research and what her biases might be, so they could account for them when they were weighing the solid evidence to come. I wish more authors would do that. The book has won many accolades including being adjudged one of the best nonfiction books of 2023 by Kirkus reviews and the Behavioral Scientist, among others. Maybe I should not be so surprised that an elected official is content to pronounce such strong judgement based on reading only a small sample from the intro, rather than take the time to read the book and see what it actually says.
Janet Morrison-Lane –
What’s fascinating (and troubling) to me is how our system perpetuates weathering even beyond our current circumstances. One of the biggest a-ha moments in this book (for me) was thinking about voting. The fact that weathering (via health outcomes, neglectful medical personnel, etc.) has literally decreased the number of people who can vote. Knowing that population of voters would, more than likely, vote democratic is something to really think about. Systems set up to marginalize people, while also literally killing them off in ways that perpetuate the marginalization.
JP –
Illuminating ideas supported by empirical data and anecdotal evidence. Well-reasoned and well-written. The author is very clear that “weathering” applies to all members of disadvantaged groups — ethnic minorities, poor whites, and LGBTQ community, etc. The author also explains how the groups most likely to suffer from weathering can change over time as societies themselves change. Status plays a much larger role than many people claim. It’s not all about genes or lifestyle. I found it fascinating that the groups must likely to suffer from diabetes 100 years ago are not the same groups today. I was also fascinated by why many African American teenage girls believe it’s better to have children earlier. Here’s a hint: its more about weathering than welfare. Like I said, this book is revelatory. I wish everyone would read AND understand it.
Marc D McGarry –
If you care about social justice, this stunning, eye-opening book is essential. With revelation after revelation based on decades of her pioneering research, it challenges some of our most harmful assumptions about each other. It’s readable, fascinating, and moving. (The few people who gave it one star appear to have either not read it, or have completely misunderstood it.)
Rael Slavensky –
A magnificent effort to explain and expand on the effects of oppression resulting in poor physical and mental health. Perspective ranges from individual stories to well documented statistics on population health.
B –
Excellent ‼️
VeryFitOma –
I’ve read many “5 starred” books this year, but this one outshines them all, on many levels. It is profound, challenging, and thought provoking. It shines a much needed spotlight on the consequences of systemic inequities and why policies to address them have failed. But beyond her acute (and astute) social critique, Dr. Geronimus shows us the humanity and resilience of unjustly marginalized individuals.
Kindle Customer –
While I still question some of the evidence cited in the book, the overall message is loud and clear and believable. Its disappointing that not much can be done on the personal level to fight the impacts of weathering, I appreciate that the book is honest about the need for holistic and systemic change to make a real impact.
Kelevilin Kimathi –
This book is very timely. It shows how social econmic conditions conspire against those at the bottom of pyramid.They suffer disproportionately from various health conditions which reduces their life span and for some results in hell on earth.The author offers solutions on what could be done for society as a whole to thrive