Ecosocial Theory, Embodied Truths, and the People's Health

Anne-Emanuelle Birn, Global Development Studies, University of Toronto A tour de force, Nancy Krieger's latest book weaves together decades of her own pioneering work integrating ecosocial theory, empirical research, and transformative policy and politics. This clear-headed cri de coeur is guided by Krieger's dazzling intellect, deep historical and contextual understanding, methodological knowhow, and above all is motivated by her lifetime of commitment to social and health justice.

Meredith Minkler, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, and co-editor, Community Organizing and Community Building for Health and Social Equity In this landmark book, Nancy Krieger makes a compelling case for not simply working to address health inequities but grounding that work firmly in ecosocial theory and a deep understanding of the 'embodied truths our bodies tell.' A masterpiece, from one of the most important public health scholars of the last half century.

Steven Woolf, Center on Society and Health, Virginia Commonwealth University Building on decades of research, Nancy Krieger's eloquent writing takes us on a journey through history, science, and sociology to peel back surface explanations and reveal what truly shapes our health. This expos of how our bodies reflect the embodied truths of society should be required reading for anyone seeking to understand health disparities.

Makani Themba, Higher Ground Change Strategies, Jackson, Mississippi This book connects all the dotsstructural racism, class, power, gender, white supremacist culture, policy, ableism, and moreproviding the most elegant and accessible explanation of how they all interact, connect, and shape not only embodied health but our environment and public policy. The stories, the data, and the analysis are deftly on point. This book is an absolute game changer.

Randall Akee, Departments of Public Policy and American Indian Studies, and Chair of American Indian Studies Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles This book provides a clear, accessible entry into one of Nancy Krieger's main contributions to public health literaturethe ecosocial theory of disease distributionwith helpful examples for the application and importance of this theory for a general audience. Many communities of color will resonate with her explanation of the interdependence of societal and environmental situations on unequal and disparate health outcomes.

Michael Mndez, School of Social Ecology, Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy, University of California, Irvine and author, Climate Change from the Streets: How Conflict and Collaboration Strengthen the Environmental Justice Movement Nancy Krieger's groundbreaking concept of ecosocial theory has influenced a generation of environmental and public health scholars. Her expanded framework on discovering truths explores how diverse points of pollution, social stratification, and pove...

Nancy Krieger, PhD, is Professor of Social Epidemiology and American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) and Director of the HSPH Interdisciplinary Concentration on Women, Gender, and Health. She is an internationally recognized social epidemiologist with a background in biochemistry, philosophy of science, and history of public health. In 2004, she became an ISI highly cited scientist and has over thirty years of activism involving social justice, science, and health.

Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1. From Embodying Injustice to Embodying Equity: Embodied Truths and the Ecosocial Theory of Disease Distribution Chapter 2. Embodying (In)justice and Embodied Truths: Using Ecosocial Theory to Analyze Population Health Data Chapter 3. Challenges: Embodied Truths, Vision, and Advancing Health Justice References Index