Soc Sci Med. 1989 ; 28(11): 1103-12.

The American dominative medical system as a reflection of social relations in the larger society.

Baer HA.

Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Arkansas, Little Rock 72204.

Expanding upon Navarro's analysis of the American biomedical sector, I argue that the phenomenon of medical pluralism has historically and continues to reflect class, racial/ethnic, and gender relations in American society. The evolution of the American medical system is traced from a relatively pluralistic one in the nineteenth century to a dominative one in the twentieth century. While legitimation and even professionalization of various alternative medical systems supports the assertion that the dominance of biomedicine is delegated rather than absolute, these processes reflect the growing accommodation on the part of alternative practitioners to the reductionist disease theory which is compatible with capitalist ideology.