Sruthi Madhu
Working-Class Environmentalism and Occupational Health Hazard: Lead Inhalation and Race in Splash Hatch on the E Going Down
Sruthi Madhu
National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh
sruthimad98@gmail.com
Soumya Jose
National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh
Occupational health and safety form a critical component of public health, as workers of marginalised communities are disproportionately exposed to hazardous substances and unsafe working conditions. These health challenges are further aggravated due to systemic inequalities such as inadequate workplace safety regulations and limited access to health insurance. Kia Corthron’s Splash Hatch on the E Going Down delineates the life of Erry, a demolition worker who is afflicted by lead poisoning due to unsafe workplace conditions. The play foregrounds the issue of lead poisoning, a persistent public health concern often caused by governmental negligence of occupational health and safety. Exploring the intersection of occupational health hazards and the role of race and class in public health, this paper attempts to understand the representation of systemic inequalities and healthcare in Corthron’s play. The paper draws upon Nancy Krieger’s ecosocial theory, which posits that disease distribution within populations is intrinsically linked to various social factors and an examination of the relationships between these social determinants provides a comprehensive understanding of public health disparities. This framework underscores societal and ecological injustices as collective experiences of populations which are embodied in their health outcomes, reinforcing inequities. The paper also seeks to investigate the representation of corporate and labour laws in shaping workplace safety standards and its influence on health outcomes of working-class populations. The study analyses the character of Thyme, Erry’s wife, as a representative of the environmental proletariat, embodying significant awareness of environmental degradation and its impact on the health of underprivileged Black communities. This nuanced characterisation of Thyme underscores the intimate and lived realities of environmental harm experienced by marginalised communities and provides a lens to emphasise the systemic failure to assure equitable health. Through this exploration, the paper aims to contribute to broader discussions on public health and labour rights.
BIOGRAPHIES
Sruthi Madhu
Sruthi Madhu is a Research Scholar in Department of English at the School of Humanities and Management, National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh, India. She holds an MA in English and Comparative Literature from Pondicherry Central University, India. Her research area explores the intersections of race and gender in medical humanities.
Dr. Soumya Jose
Dr. Soumya Jose is an Assistant Professor of English at the School of Humanities and Management, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Andhra Pradesh, India. Dr. Jose joined NIT Andhra Pradesh in July 2018, and prior to that she had a stint at VIT University, Vellore, India for five years. Dr. Jose’s primary area of research is African American theater and is currently doing research in African American women’s theater.