In Not Quite a Cancer Vaccine, medical anthropologist S.D. Gottlieb explores how the vaccine Gardasil--developed against the most common sexually-transmitted infection, human papillomavirus (HPV)--was marketed primarily as a cervical cancer vaccine. Gardasil quickly became implicated in two pre-existing debates--about adolescent sexuality and pediatric vaccinations more generally.

Prior to its market debut, Gardasil seemed to offer female empowerment, touting protection against HPV and its potential for cervical cancer. Gottlieb questions the marketing pitch's vaunted...