A groundbreaking concept called “weathering” is shedding light on health disparities among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Dr. Arline Geronimus, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, developed this theory to explain why certain populations are more prone to chronic diseases and shorter lifespans.
Geronimus’ research, which began during her college years, explores how constant environmental stressors can erode a person’s health by maintaining a continual “fight or flight” emergency. This process, she explains, causes people to become “chronologically old at a young age” due to the wear and tear on various body systems.
The weathering hypothesis suggests that the need for constant vigilance in potentially hostile environments contributes to health deterioration. Geronimus found that this concept could explain why Black women giving birth in their 20s face more complications than those who become mothers in their teens, contrary to trends observed in White women.
Initially met with resistance from the medical and scientific community, the weathering hypothesis has gained acceptance over time. It challenges popular narratives attributing chronic health problems in minorities solely to genetics or lifestyle choices.
Geronimus emphasizes that while stress is universal, socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in how individuals cope with and mitigate its effects. She argues that addressing structural inequalities is essential to combating weathering across different social classes.
The concept of weathering, along with “allostatic load” – the cumulative burden of chronic stress and life events – is now part of the broader conversation on health disparities. Geronimus recently published a book titled “Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society,” which The Guardian praised as an “extraordinary and timely work.”
See “Weathering by Arline Geronimus review – how discrimination makes you sick” (March 17, 2023)
