Exploring the Racial and Religious Dynamics of Organ Donation Promotion in the Greater Toronto Area
Ayan Kassim
MA Student, Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto
This paper examines how and to what effect pro- donation interests use ‘culture’ and ‘religion’ to justify low donor registration rates among multicultural communities in the GTA. I will analyze promotional literature by the Trillium Gift of Life Network and newspaper articles, tracing the ways ‘religion’ and ‘culture’ as terms are used to subtly obscure processes of racialization when describing certain demographics. I argue that the non-consent of the racial-religious subject is juxtaposed against a progressive, liberal, and responsible biocitizen who fulfills their social duty through registration. Consequently, these constructions problematically place the onus of organ shortage unevenly on racial minorities in Ontario.
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