Collective Biologies: Healing Social Ills through Sexual Health Research in Mexico

Emily A. Wentzell's book "Collective Biologies" explores how individual health behaviors can aid groups facing crisis and change, using sexual health research participation as a case study. She demonstrates that medical research is a daily life arena that people can use to enhance collective health and well-being, challenging the common regulatory view of medical research participation as an individual pursuit.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her groundbreaking work, "Collective Biologies," Emily A. Wentzell delves into the captivating realm of sexual health research participation, utilizing it as a compelling case study to explore the profound impact of individual health behaviors on groups navigating crises and transformative change. Through meticulous analysis, Wentzell delves into the experiences of couples participating in a longitudinal study on the occurrence of HPV in men in Cuernavaca, Mexico. What emerges is a profound reflection of Mexican cultural understandings of group belonging, manifested through categories such as family and race.

As Wentzell observes, partners in the study drew upon collective rather than individualistic notions of biology to hold onto hope that men's engagement in HPV research would contribute to the well-being of diverse groups, ranging from church congregations to the broader Mexican populace. By challenging the prevailing regulatory view of medical research participation as solely an individual pursuit, Wentzell unveils a more holistic perspective. She demonstrates that medical research is not merely a theoretical domain but an integral part of daily life, offering a platform for individuals to actively engage and utilize their actions to address embodied societal problems.

In her quest to unravel the potential of collective biologies, Wentzell delves into the intricate ways in which people can harness their own behaviors to promote collective health and well-being. By identifying and embracing forms of group interconnectedness, she offers a roadmap for individuals to contribute to the greater good in ways that may be obscured by the neoliberal emphasis on individuality. Through her insightful exploration, Wentzell empowers individuals to recognize their agency in shaping collective outcomes and advocates for a more inclusive and holistic approach to health and well-being that recognizes the interconnectedness of groups and individuals.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478013945