Whose Health Matters? An In-Class Simulation on Industrial Pollution for Teaching Ethical Dilemmas and Doing Democracy

In-class simulations are an “active learning” strategy that can improve students’ understanding of complex issues in fun and engaging ways. Race, class, environment, health, social movements, and democratic participation—and their intersections—are integral topics to sociology curriculum and preparing students to realize meaningful social change. However, there is a dearth of in-class activity resources available for teaching about pressing social issues at the intersection of health and the environment. To help teach students about navigating ethical dilemmas and barriers to legislative change, this article details an in-class role-playing simulation activity about the health consequences of industrial pollution caused by the sterilization of medical supplies—and its disproportionate impacts on lower-income, minority communities in the United States.