Inclusion: The Politics of Difference in Medical Research

by Steven Epstein

With Inclusion , Steven Epstein argues that strategies to achieve diversity in medical research mask deeper problems, ones that might require a different approach and different solutions. Formal concern with this issue, Epstein shows, is a fairly recent phenomenon. Until the mid-1980s, scientists often studied groups of white, middle-aged men—and assumed that conclusions drawn from studying them would apply to the rest of the population. But struggles involving advocacy groups, experts, and Congress led to reforms that forced researchers to diversify the population from which they drew for clinical research. While the prominence of these inclusive practices has offered hope to traditionally underserved groups, Epstein argues that it has drawn attention away from the tremendous inequalities in health that are rooted not in biology but in society. “Epstein’s use of theory to demonstrate how public policies in the health profession are shaped makes this book relevant for many academic disciplines. . . . Highly recommended.”— Choice “A masterful comprehensive overview of a wide terrain.”—Troy Duster, Biosocieties

Genres: Sociology, Medicine, Science, Academia, Academic, Nonfiction

424 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2007

Reviews

[Darya Saudade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read, especially if you are into bioethics and sociology in medical research. Although it becomes a bit tiresome sometime.

[Sam Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very thorough treatment of what Epstein calls the "inclusion-and-difference" paradigm of medical research. I read it because I am interested in biological citizenship, and indeed it does have useful insights on that topic, such as his points about how various ways of categorizing society intersect (challenge or align) with each other, like biological categories and those used by social movements and those used in writing policy. Also his point that fighting for a certain representation in science is also about political representation, even though science is framed as a different realm. I liked the book, though in the end it probably would have been more useful to me as a tightly packed article.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit exhausting to read and keep up with, but very interesting.