Dr. Klausner Presents Paper

Dr. Michael Klausner, associate professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, presented a paper at the Pennsylvania Sociological Society’s conference held in Harrisburg last month.

Klausner’s paper, titled “Environmental Racism and Classism: Sociological Perspectives,” dealt with the nature, prevalence and responses to environmental racism and classism.

Environmental racism and classism is the disproportionate siting of various kinds of facilities, including toxic waste dumps, oil, lead, chemical refineries and other structures in areas populated primarily by members of minority groups (mainly African Americans) and those at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale.

The phenomenon also refers to the differential enforcement of environmental laws both in specific communities and in the workplace. A variety of studies have indicated that environmental racism and classism in one form or another has and still exists in many communities in the United States. In addition to negatively affecting the health of victims, environmental racism and classism also results in reinforcing the adversarial relationship that exists among different segments of society.

Klausner’s paper also discussed why the nature of the negative effects of toxic pollutants makes it difficult, at times, but not impossible, to show causal relationships between the pollutants and disease. He also addressed reasons for the existence of environmental racism and classism, including the role that industry lobbying and deception play in sustaining the phenomenon. Responses to environmental racism and pollution by those most affected were dealt with, including the emergence of the environmental justice movement and popular epidemiology.

Klausner teaches a variety of sociology classes. He spends his summers in New York City, where he is involved tutoring homeless children with New York Cares.