Backdoor to eugenics / Troy Duster ; [with a foreword by Pierre Bourdieu].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Duster, Troy.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Eugenics.

Human chromosome abnormalities--Diagnosis--Social aspects.

Human chromosome abnormalities.

Genetic disorders--Social aspects.

Genetic disorders.

Eugenics--United States.

Human chromosome abnormalities--Diagnosis.

United States.

Physical Description:

xvi, 240 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge, 2003.

Summary:

Considered a classic in the field, Troy Duster's "Backdoor to Eugenics" was a groundbreaking book that grappled with the social and political implications of the new genetic technologies. Completely updated and revised, this work will be welcomed back into print as we struggle to understand the pros and cons of prenatal detection of birth defects; gene therapies; growth hormones; and substitute genetic answers to problems linked with such groups as Jews, Scandinavians, Native American, Arabs, and African Americans. Duster's book has never been more timely.

Contents:

Inherited genetic disorders and inherited social orders

The prism of heritability and the sociology of knowledge: what questions? Whose questions?

The genetic screening of "target" populations

Dilemmas of a "general" genetic disorder control policy

Neutrality and ideology in genetic disorder control

The increasing appropriation of genetic explanations

Eugenics by the back door

Human genetics, evolutionary theory, and social stratification

Afterword: The new and emerging relationship between behavioral and molecular genetics.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 212-233) and index.

ISBN:

0415948053

0415946743

OCLC:

52251293