Indigenous Bodies, Cells, and Genes: Biomedicalization and Embodied Resistance in Native American Literature

This book explores Native American literary responses to biomedical discourses and biomedicalization processes, highlighting how illness, healing, treatment, and genetic research are socially constructed and dependent on racialist thinking. It analyzes work by Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, LeAnne Howe, Linda Hogan, Heid E. Erdrich, Elissa Washuta, and Frances Washburn, appealing to scholars of Native American and Indigenous Studies and others with an interest in literature and medicine.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 270 pages
\n Publication date: 09 October 2020
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
\n

This comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate literary responses of Native American communities to biomedical discourses and processes, shedding light on their unwavering resistance against the reductive tendencies of biomedicine. Instead of succumbing to the exclusion of Indigenous and non-Western epistemologies, these communities boldly highlight the socially constructed nature of illness, healing, treatment, and genetic research, which are inherently rooted in racialist thinking. Through a rich tapestry of narratives, the book showcases the powerful interventions aimed at challenging the hegemony of biomedicine, offering a profound analysis of various topics such as the tuberculosis and diabetes epidemics, the emergence of Native American DNA, groundbreaking discoveries in biotechnology, and the complexities inherent in a biomedical model of psychiatry.

Drawing upon a diverse range of works by renowned authors like Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, LeAnne Howe, Linda Hogan, Heid E. Erdrich, Elissa Washuta, and Frances Washburn, the book offers a multi-faceted perspective on these critical issues. It appeals to scholars of Native American and Indigenous Studies, as well as to those with an interest in literature and medicine, providing a valuable resource for understanding the complex interplay between culture, health, and society.

In conclusion, this book serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of Native American communities in navigating the complexities of biomedical discourse and processes. By embracing their unique epistemologies and challenging the dominant medical model, they contribute to a broader understanding of health and wellness, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable approach to healthcare that recognizes the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.

\n Weight: 562g\n
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780367478520\n \n