The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide

The COVID pandemic highlighted the vast inequalities in who was able to survive the virus. Steven Thrasher, a prominent scholar studying the racialization, policing, and criminalization of HIV, has developed a unified theory of the viral underclass, which explains how viruses expose the fault lines of society. Told through the heart-rending stories of friends, activists, and teachers navigating COVID, HIV, and other viruses, the book helps us understand the world more deeply by showing the fraught relationship between privilege and survival.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 02 August 2022
Publisher: St Martin's Press

The COVID pandemic of 2020 brought fear and chaos to the world, as people locked themselves in their homes and stocked up on food, fearing unemployment, loss of loved ones, and an uncertain future. However, it became evident that the virus had a disparate impact on different groups of society. Wealthier individuals could work from home and use food delivery services to stay safe, while marginalized members faced greater vulnerability. They held risky jobs as "essential workers," lacked health insurance, lost employment, and struggled to afford housing and food. They were often older and viewed as disposable, and they were undocumented and afraid to seek medical care. Furthermore, individuals with disabilities were at a heightened risk due to their conditions.

Prominent scholar Steven Thrasher, who has spent his career studying the racialization, policing, and criminalization of HIV, recognized the intersection of viruses with racism, capitalism, homophobia, and ableism. He termed this phenomenon the "viral underclass," highlighting the ways in which social structures influence the spread, killing, and toll of viruses. In his book, "The Viral Underclass," Dr. Thrasher presents a unified theory of how viruses expose the fault lines of society.

Through heart-rending stories of friends, activists, and teachers navigating COVID, HIV, and other viruses, Dr. Thrasher takes the reader on a journey as he develops his theory. He argues that viruses create a hierarchical structure in society, with the most vulnerable at the bottom and the most privileged at the top. He explores how this hierarchy is perpetuated by factors such as race, class, gender, sexuality, and geography, and how it leads to unequal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.

Dr. Thrasher also sheds light on the ways in which viruses can be used as tools for social justice and change. He highlights the experiences of activists and community organizers who have used viral campaigns to raise awareness about issues such as racism, homophobia, and transphobia. He also discusses the role of technology in amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and enabling them to mobilize and organize for change.

"The Viral Underclass" is a powerful and thought-provoking book that challenges readers to think critically about the social and economic inequalities that exist in our society and the ways in which viruses exacerbate them. It provides a valuable perspective on the intersection of viruses, social justice, and human rights, and offers a roadmap for building a more equitable and just world.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250796639