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About:

Abby Arthur Smith (he/she/they) is a qualitative historical sociologist who applies science and technology studies to the sociology of morality and health inequalities. His data sources include historical records belonging to patients, administrative boards, and government agencies; scientific publications; and patient interviews.

Their dissertation (in its early stages) considers how doctors, nurses, lawyers, social workers, and administrators negotiated morality through eugenics programs to sterilize “moral degenerates and sexual perverts” in the 20th century United States.

These ongoing collaborative projects concern eugenics history and racialized water governance. Abby’s interests broadly include morality, embodiment, materiality, inequalities, governmentality, science and technology studies, and public health.

They are a graduate trainee of the University of Michigan Population Studies Center.