Biological Essentialism in Policy and Public Health Practice

Biological essentialism--the idea that our identities and traits are intrinsic, static, and solely biological--acts as a dominant discourse in science, centering DNA as the "blueprint of life" and reinforcing the idea that science and biology represent "objective truths." This framework has historically supported and justified eugenic practices, harming marginalized communities by wrongfully pointing to perceived biological differences between groups. Join us as we examine its ongoing impact on public health practices and policies and explore how we can help dispel this narrative in our own research.