• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
Systemic racism persists in the sciences thumbnail

Systemic racism persists in the sciences

July 26, 2020
Jake Paul among 8 celebrities charged by SEC for ‘illegally touting’ crypto scheme thumbnail

Jake Paul among 8 celebrities charged by SEC for ‘illegally touting’ crypto scheme

March 23, 2023
Boston's new star puts on a Classic show thumbnail

Boston’s new star puts on a Classic show

March 23, 2023
Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people thumbnail

Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people

March 23, 2023
Hospitals re-evaluate masking, PPE as state mandates end thumbnail

Hospitals re-evaluate masking, PPE as state mandates end

March 23, 2023
With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat thumbnail

With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat

March 22, 2023
Astronomers sound alarm about light pollution from satellites thumbnail

Astronomers sound alarm about light pollution from satellites

March 22, 2023
Balanced budget takes back seat to paring spending to ‘22 levels at GOP retreat thumbnail

Balanced budget takes back seat to paring spending to ‘22 levels at GOP retreat

March 21, 2023
A potential Trump indictment is a sideshow gift to the Biden family thumbnail

A potential Trump indictment is a sideshow gift to the Biden family

March 21, 2023
Alaska oil drilling protesters disrupt White House climate adviser appearance thumbnail

Alaska oil drilling protesters disrupt White House climate adviser appearance

March 21, 2023
Biden vetoes Republican effort to overturn socially conscious retirement rule thumbnail

Biden vetoes Republican effort to overturn socially conscious retirement rule

March 21, 2023
Here’s How Gasoline Prices Fared Under The Last Four Presidents thumbnail

Here’s How Gasoline Prices Fared Under The Last Four Presidents

March 20, 2023
America used to have its own lion. Where did they go? thumbnail

America used to have its own lion. Where did they go?

March 20, 2023
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Donate
Thursday, March 23, 2023
66 °f
Wellfleet
58 ° Tue
63 ° Wed
68 ° Thu
61 ° Fri
  • Login
  • Register
FREE Cape Cod News
DONATE
  • FREE Cape Cod News
  • News
    • News
    • Cape Cod News
    • Massachusetts
    • Breaking News
    • Cape Cod Weather
    • Storm Watch
    • Environment
  • Politics
    • democrats
    • republicans
  • Business
    • business
    • cryptocurrency
    • economy
    • money
    • Real Estate
    • Tech
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Photos
    • Orleans
    • Eastham
    • Wellfleet
    • Truro
    • Provincetown
    • Brewster
    • Chatham
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Free Cape Cod News
No Result
View All Result
  • FREE Cape Cod News
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home News

Systemic racism persists in the sciences

FREE Cape Cod News by FREE Cape Cod News
July 26, 2020
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Donate
0
Systemic racism persists in the sciences thumbnail
634
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook

Embedded Image

PHOTO: SEAN GARCIA

It’s tempting to think of medicine and health care as objective and neutral, driven solely by scientific principles and free inquiry. Indeed, scientists go through extensive measures to make their research bias-free. However, recent developments show that despite the best efforts, racial disparities persist in the health care system even when they are unintentional.

The disproportionate impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Black and Latinx communities in the United States has demonstrated that although illnesses may not discriminate, varying access to treatment, preventive measures, and other resources can still lead to imbalances in health care. Racial differences persist in scientific research as well: Algorithms designed to make decisions about health care incorporate biases that limit care for Black patients. Another recent study showed that Black applicants to granting programs at the U.S. National Institutes of Health got less money than their White colleagues. This was not a result of intentional discrimination, but because Black researchers worked in areas (fertility, health disparities, and adolescent health) that tend to be underfunded.

Why do racial disparities persist despite the safeguards scientists have put into place to keep their work bias-free?

Much of the problem is that racial biases not only occur in individuals, but are also embedded in our institutions—what sociologists refer to as “structural” or “systemic” racism. Once primarily heard among social scientists, these terms have, in the past few months, become more mainstream. Systemic racism refers to the well documented fact that most of our institutions—in politics, law, education, and health care, to name a few—are fundamentally organized according to assumptions and policies that work to the disadvantage of communities of color, and Blacks in particular.

In health care, for instance, this can mean pay policies that discourage practitioners from treating patients who are affected by poverty, discrimination, and other factors that can impair health—factors that disproportionately affect Black patients and the Black practitioners who are more likely to treat them. In technology, this means facial recognition systems that frequently misidentify Black people. And in the legal system, these structural barriers are present in the oft-cited racial disparities in mandatory minimum sentencing rules for drug use, and in targeting predominantly Black, low-income communities for nonviolent drug crimes whose punishment can escalate into a loss of voting rights and other freedoms.

None of these policies is necessarily a result of individual intent, overt bias, or malice. But ultimately, individuals are the ones who create social institutions. When most of these people are White, it is all too likely that they will fail to recognize the particular realities of life for Black citizens.

The first step toward addressing these issues is to recognize that despite the pride scientists take in being analytical thinkers, these problems persist. Most people don’t set out to maintain racial disparities, but do so inadvertently, and the scientific community is not exempt. After acknowledging the issue, the second step would be to establish policies that encourage more racial diversity in all sectors of the scientific community—among researchers, educators, and policy-makers across the board.

What is badly needed is a wider range of perspectives. This suggestion may not sit well with scientists who are committed to the belief that theirs is a completely meritocratic field. But bringing together a broader variety of voices to the scientific community will help all scientists as they continue to make discoveries that advance society. The crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to Black and Latinx communities adds to the urgency.

Read More

FREE Digital Newspaper Subscription!
Sign up for your free digital subscription. The FREE Cape Cod News

Unsubscribe
FREE Cape Cod News

FREE Cape Cod News

Free Cape Cod News is what's happening in the Cape Cod, U.S and World & what people are talking about right now. Local newspaper. Stay in the know. Subscribe to get notified about our latest news.

Related Posts

Boston's new star puts on a Classic show thumbnail
News

Boston’s new star puts on a Classic show

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 23, 2023
Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people thumbnail
News

Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 23, 2023
Hospitals re-evaluate masking, PPE as state mandates end thumbnail
Fitness / Health

Hospitals re-evaluate masking, PPE as state mandates end

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 23, 2023
With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat thumbnail
News

With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 22, 2023
Load More
Please login to join discussion

Follow Us on Twitter

FREE Cape Cod News - Your source for local Cape Cod news, latest breaking U.S. and World news. Every day, all day. Subscribe for your favorite categories.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people thumbnail

Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people

March 23, 2023
With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat thumbnail

With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat

March 22, 2023
What is the weather like in Cape Cod in September. FREE Cape Cod News.

What is the weather like in Cape Cod in September?

September 1, 2020
Jake Paul among 8 celebrities charged by SEC for ‘illegally touting’ crypto scheme thumbnail

Jake Paul among 8 celebrities charged by SEC for ‘illegally touting’ crypto scheme

March 23, 2023
Boston's new star puts on a Classic show thumbnail

Boston’s new star puts on a Classic show

March 23, 2023
Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people thumbnail

Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people

March 23, 2023

FREE Cape Cod News On Twitter

Today’s News

  • Jake Paul among 8 celebrities charged by SEC for ‘illegally touting’ crypto scheme March 23, 2023
  • Boston’s new star puts on a Classic show March 23, 2023
  • Experts: Republicans’ “punitive” attacks on SNAP could strip food aid from over 10 million people March 23, 2023
  • Hospitals re-evaluate masking, PPE as state mandates end March 23, 2023
  • With possible indictment looming, Trump dominates House Republican retreat March 22, 2023
FREE Cape Cod News

Copyright © 2022 Free Cape Cod News

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Donate

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • FREE Cape Cod News
  • News
    • News
    • Cape Cod News
    • Massachusetts
    • Breaking News
    • Cape Cod Weather
    • Storm Watch
    • Environment
  • Politics
    • democrats
    • republicans
  • Business
    • business
    • cryptocurrency
    • economy
    • money
    • Real Estate
    • Tech
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Photos
    • Orleans
    • Eastham
    • Wellfleet
    • Truro
    • Provincetown
    • Brewster
    • Chatham
  • Videos
  • Login
  • Sign Up

Copyright © 2022 Free Cape Cod News

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist