Dependents and Deviants

Abstract

Forty-two states have considered a mandatory vaccination for school-age girls, but the proposed legislation is most often met with hostility and it rarely succeeds. Using newspaper articles from Arizona, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia during these legislative sessions, narrative analysis is used to find common themes in the debate, including a medical/clinical approach, “government to the rescue,” individual cost constraint/access issues, logical narrative, sexuality/morality issues, parental rights, vaccination ethics, skepticism, and negative assumptions toward African-American girls. Using Schneider and Ingram's social construction theory, further discussion points to a better understanding of the target populations of this public policy. In reviewing this health policy debate, it is suggested that considerations go beyond the perceived health benefits of the policy and spill over into the civil and social welfare rights of the legislation.