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9.5: Glossary

  • Page ID
    91916
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    Eugenics

    the act of editing the human gene pool through genocide, segregation, scientific racism, social exclusion, planned or selective breeding of certain races, or the sterilization of individuals perceived as being unfit for society.

    For more information on eugenics: https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Eugenics-and-Scientific-Racism

    Euthanasia

    the act of killing a patient or permitting their death to reduce their suffering. E.g. merci killing. This practice is considered illegal in most countries.

    For more information on euthanasia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311376/

    Hysterectomy

    surgical process in which all or part of the uterus is removed. When a total hysterectomy is performed, the cervix is removed in addition to the uterus. When a radical hysterectomy is performed, the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, uterus, lymph nodes, and upper vagina are removed.

    For more information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15985249/

    Ideological State Apparatus

    concept coined by French philosopher, Louis Pierre Althusser in which social institutions (such as schools, churches, and mass media) socialize individuals to identify with the needs and ideologies of the state or larger governmental body..

    For more information: https://mforbes.sites.gettysburg.edu/cims226/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Week-3b-Louis-Althusser.pdf

    Medical Paternalism

    occurs when the state, hospital, physician, or other medical practitioner determines every aspect of a patient’s medical care without accounting for the patient’s autonomy, comprehension, or desire for shared decision making.

    For more information on medical paternalism: https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/provider-patient-relationship#:~:text=In%20a%20healthcare%20context%20“paternalism,in%20the%20patient%27s%20best%20interests.

    Menarche

    the period at which an individual begins to menstruate (when blood and tissue are shed through the vagina).

    For more information on Menarche: https://www.unfpa.org/menstruationfaq

    Social Darwinism

    term coined by Herbert Spencer in the 19th century that wrongfully applied the laws of natural selection to determine the success of individuals based on their race, able-bodiedness, wealth, health, and perceived genetic predisposition. The term “survival of the fittest” comes out of the practice of social Darwinism.

    For more information: https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/social-darwinism

    Social and Structural Determinants of Health

    aspects of one’s built or social environment, educational access, economic access, and access to healthcare that affect their health outcomes.

    For more information: https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health

    Sterilization

    surgical procedure designed to prevent an individual from reproducing. The most common procedure for women is the tubal ligation in which a section of the fallopian tubes (or the entire fallopian tube) is removed through a small cut made under the belly button. It is a permanent procedure. For men, a small cut is made in the scrotum to access the vas deferens. A piece of the vas deferens is then removed to prevent sperm from reaching semen. A vasectomy is not permanent and can be reversed with a surgical procedure to reconnect the vas deferens.

    For more information: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/obgyn/minimally-invasive-gynecologic-surgery/female-sterilization-tubal-ligation-tubal-removal

    Structural Violence

    social or institutional processes within society that directly or indirectly cause harm by preventing an individual’s ability to access their basic needs.

    For more information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1621099/


    9.5: Glossary is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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