The colour of disease : syphilis and racism in South Africa, 1880-1950 / Karen Jochelson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jochelson, Karen, 1963-

Series:

St. Antony's/Macmillan series (London, England)

St. Antony's series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Syphilis--Social aspects--South Africa.

Syphilis.

Racism--South Africa.

Racism.

Syphilis--Social aspects.

South Africa.

South Africa--Race relations.

Race relations.

Physical Description:

xii, 248 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; New York : Palgrave ; Oxford : In association with St. Anthony's College, 2001.

Summary:

Today AIDS dominates the headlines, but a century ago it was fears of syphilis epidemics. This book looks at how the spread of syphilis was linked to socio-economic transformation as land dispossession, migrancy and urbanization disrupted social networks--factors similarly important in the AIDS crisis. Medical explanations of syphilis and state medical policy were also shaped by contemporary beliefs about race. Doctors drew on ideas from social darwinism, eugenics, and social anthropology to explain the incidence of syphilis among poor whites and Africans, and to define "normal" abnormal sexual behavior for racial groups.

Contents:

1 Tracking Down the Treponema, 1880-1910 10

2 From Paupers to Pass Laws: Control of VD in the Cape and Transvaal, 1880-1910 34

3 VD and the 'Poor White' Problem in the 1920s and 1930s 54

4 VD Treatment and Educational Propaganda for Whites, 1910-1930s 77

5 Migrancy, Prostitution and VD, 1920-50 93

6 Moral Tribes and Corrupting Cities: VD and the 'Native Question', 1920-50 111

7 VD Treatment and Educational Propaganda for Africans, 1910-50 141.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 218-245) and index.

ISBN:

0333740440

OCLC:

45052700