Categorizing people in the German life sciences: a systematic literature review of classifications of human diversity

Abstract

Abstract The use of human diversity classifications such as race, ethnicity, ancestry, or migration background entails a range of scientific as well as social consequences, and careful application of such terms is therefore vital. In this article, we present results from a systematic literature review and subsequent quantitative content analysis of 546 life science papers from German research institutes. We are concerned specifically with racial, ethnic, migration- and ancestry-related classifications used in such papers. Our aim is to capture a snapshot of the classification practices currently applied to the categorization of humans across various disciplines and fields in a specific national context that remains under-researched. The review (a) substantiates results from earlier studies that point to heterogeneity, inconsistency, and vagueness of human classifications used in the life sciences, and (b) confirms the expected specificity of German scientific discourse, where the term “race” is used comparatively rarely. Our findings stress the need for German researchers to partake in the ongoing international debate on the practice of human classification in the life sciences to advance the international and interdisciplinary transferability of scientific results and, first and foremost, to avoid unintended effects such as overgeneralization, racialization, and stigmatization.