Arline T. Geronimus

A member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Arline T. Geronimus originated weathering theory. She is a professor of health education and health equity at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and a founding affiliate of the Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture, and Health.

Her award-winning book, "WEATHERING: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society" draws from four decades of research to show the high price that members of marginalized or maligned communities pay in their health as they strive to be authentic and to overcome structured injustice in their daily rounds. The book outlines the consequences of weathering for the health of women, children and families, and it offers a roadmap toward structural change, joy, and healing.

Dr. Geronimus identifies historical, political, ideological and social dynamics that activate the weathering process in our bodies, as well as the material, environmental, health system, social psychological, and human biological mechanisms through which weathering exacts its toll on health. Marginalized communities employ collective strategies to mitigate, resist, or undo weathering.  Dr. Geronimus considers the trade-offs that these strategies reflect and the way that public policy can disturb community protections.