Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps
The German government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been predominantly considered wellfounded. Still, the practice of mass quarantine in reception centres and asylum camps has been criticised for its discrimination of refugees and asylum seekers. Building on the concept of othering, this a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2020-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/12/e003789.full |
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| author | Kayvan Bozorgmehr Jacob Spallek Marie Tallarek |
| author_facet | Kayvan Bozorgmehr Jacob Spallek Marie Tallarek |
| author_sort | Kayvan Bozorgmehr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The German government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been predominantly considered wellfounded. Still, the practice of mass quarantine in reception centres and asylum camps has been criticised for its discrimination of refugees and asylum seekers. Building on the concept of othering, this article argues that processes of othering are structurally anchored in German asylum regulations and they have further pervaded public health measures against COVID-19. The practice of mass quarantine made the negative consequences of exclusionary othering for public health particularly noticeable. In the light of recent data indicating this measure to be epidemiologically, legally and ethically insufficient, we apply the concept of othering to public health and discuss (1) exclusionary, (2) inclusionary and (3) diversity-sensitive approaches to public health. We finally conclude that a shift of perspective from exclusion to inclusion, from subordination to empowerment and from silencing to participation is urgently required. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b3ca2f94c0294eaa8c878dd904e58e83 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b3ca2f94c0294eaa8c878dd904e58e832025-08-20T02:20:58ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082020-12-0151210.1136/bmjgh-2020-003789Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum campsKayvan Bozorgmehr0Jacob Spallek1Marie Tallarek2Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen, GermanyDepartment of Public Health, Brandenburg University of Technology, Senftenberg, GermanyDepartment of Public Health, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, GermanyThe German government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been predominantly considered wellfounded. Still, the practice of mass quarantine in reception centres and asylum camps has been criticised for its discrimination of refugees and asylum seekers. Building on the concept of othering, this article argues that processes of othering are structurally anchored in German asylum regulations and they have further pervaded public health measures against COVID-19. The practice of mass quarantine made the negative consequences of exclusionary othering for public health particularly noticeable. In the light of recent data indicating this measure to be epidemiologically, legally and ethically insufficient, we apply the concept of othering to public health and discuss (1) exclusionary, (2) inclusionary and (3) diversity-sensitive approaches to public health. We finally conclude that a shift of perspective from exclusion to inclusion, from subordination to empowerment and from silencing to participation is urgently required.https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/12/e003789.full |
| spellingShingle | Kayvan Bozorgmehr Jacob Spallek Marie Tallarek Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps BMJ Global Health |
| title | Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps |
| title_full | Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps |
| title_fullStr | Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps |
| title_short | Towards inclusionary and diversity-sensitive public health: the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of COVID-19 management in German reception centres and asylum camps |
| title_sort | towards inclusionary and diversity sensitive public health the consequences of exclusionary othering in public health using the example of covid 19 management in german reception centres and asylum camps |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/12/e003789.full |
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