Exploring social injustice

APA's Public Interest Directorate and Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (BAPPI) are sponsoring a series of programs on the value of social justice in today's society. The five symposia in the series will explore how social injustice affects, and plays out differently among, racial and ethnic minorities; women; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities; children, youth and families; older adults; people with disabilities and people with HIV/AIDS. The program will also look at the positive impact of social justice and include a policy discussion featuring some of California's top legislators.

The five symposia are:

• "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? A Preview of a PBS Documentary and Discussion," held Friday, Aug. 17, 10 -11:50 a.m. Speakers include Larry Adelman, of the documentary film center California Newsreel, in San Francisco; Troy Duster, PhD, of New York University; and Nancy E. Adler, PhD, of the University of California San Francisco. BAPPI Chair Margaret B. Heldring, PhD, president of America's Health Together--a national health-care advocacy organization--will chair the symposium, co-listed by Divs. 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues), 27 (Society for Community Research and Action), 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues), and 51 (Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity).

• "Vulnerable AND Impressionable: Social Inequality and Children's Exposure to Health Risks," held Sunday, Aug. 19, 2-2:50 p.m. The session will address the relationship between poverty and obesity, the sexualization of young girls and the effects of marketing and commercialization on children. Presenters include Eileen Zurbriggen, PhD, of the University of California Santa Cruz; Brian Wilcox, PhD, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and symposium chair Barbara H. Fiese, PhD, of Syracuse University. The session is co-listed by APA's Committee on Children, Youth and Families, Committee on Women in Psychology, and Divs. 9, 27, 45, and 51.

• "Aging and Health Disparities: Cumulative Effects of Race, Gender and SES," held Sunday, Aug. 19, 3-3:50 p.m., will address such topics as barriers to care for immigrant women and the role of socioeconomic status, age and race in health disparities. The session is co-listed by APA's Committee on Aging as well as Divs. 9, 27, 45 and 51. Presenters include: David Chiriboga, PhD, of the University of South Florida; Barbara Yee, PhD, of University of Hawaii at Manoa; James S. Jackson, PhD, of the University of Michigan; and Toni C. Antonucci, PhD, of the University of Michigan. Rosemary Blieszner, PhD, of Virginia Tech, will chair the symposium.

• "Mental Health Effects of Racial Profiling and Stereotyping," held Monday, Aug. 20, 11-11:50 a.m. The symposium will explore how stereotyping and labeling affect minorities and people with disabilities. APA's Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology, APA's Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA) and Divs. 9, 27, 45 and 51 will co-list the session, to be chaired by Allan Noonan, MD, MPH, of Morgan State University. Additional presenters include Nadia Hasan, of the University of Akron; Muninder Ahluwalia, PhD, of Montclair State University; Rhoda Olkin, PhD, of Alliant International University; and Irene Leigh, PhD, of Gallaudet University. The session discussant is James Jones, PhD, of the University of Delaware.

• "Public Policy and Mental Health Implications of Immigration: Local, State and Federal Perspectives," held on Friday, Aug. 17, 1-2:50 p.m., is co-listed by CEMA and Divs. 9, 27, 45 and 51. Presenters include Margarita Alegria, PhD, of Harvard University; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; California State Senator Gloria Romero (D); and Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.). Ricardo Aislie, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin, and Lelan Y. Yee, speaker pro tempore of the California State Legislature, will serve as discussants. Jose M. Cervantes, PhD, of California State University Fullerton, will chair the session.