Dental Mixer
Suggested Teaching Instructions
The onset of the AIDS epidemic was met with fears about the new disease, and how it could be spread. Without good scientific information, the public worried about contagion through low to no-risk activities, including holding hands or using a public toilet. These fears led to denial of medical care for many HIV+ patients and for the broader gay community, including dental and eye care. In New York’s Capital Region, services for the HIV+ community, including access to medical care, was provided through a patchwork of non-profit and community organizations, including Whitney Young Health. This ophthalmic chair, dental chair, and dental casting mixer were donated to the NYS Museum by Whitney Young Health in 1989, at a time that they were expanding their services to better provide for this population.
Learning Standards:
11.10 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE/DOMESTIC ISSUES (1945 – present): Racial, gender, and socioeconomic inequalities were addressed by individuals, groups, and organizations. Varying political philosophies prompted debates over the role of the federal government in regulating the economy and providing a social safety net. (Standards: 1, 4, 5; Themes: ID, TCC, SOC, GOV, CIV, ECO)
11.10b Individuals, diverse groups, and organizations have sought to bring about change in American society through a variety of methods.
Gay Rights and the LGBT movement (e.g., Stonewall Inn riots [1969], efforts for equal legal rights)
8.9 DOMESTIC POLITICS AND REFORM: The civil rights movement and the Great Society were attempts by people and the government to address major social, legal, economic, and environmental problems. Subsequent economic recession called for a new economic program. (Standards: 1, 4, 5; Themes: TCC, SOC, CIV, ECO)
8.9b The civil rights movement prompted renewed efforts for equality by women and other groups.
Students will examine struggles for equality and factors that enabled or limited success on behalf of women, farm workers, Native Americans, the disabled, and the LGBT community.