The Body Reader Essential Social and Cultural Readings

"The attention on the body has been growing in the academic discourse over the last years, and The Body Reader...contributes to it greatly." (Metapsychology Online Reviews) "The Body Reader provides an excellent series of in-depth discussions of important issues that are realted to body image and personal identity, as well as of social and cultural perceptions and values. The presentations are definitive, refreshingly original , insightful, and well written. The interdisciplinary approaches to this important topic have been skillfully blended and organized by the editors. This is a theoretically important set of readings that deserves a wide readership among a wide variety of behavioral and biological scientists." - James A. Moses Jr. (American Psychological Association) "Anyone looking for a research idea or seeking inspiration to write about her or his own embodiment from a scholarly perpective is likely to find it in The Body Reader. This reader is a fascinating read." - Joan C. Chrisler, Jennifer Bessette (Springer Science and Business Media Journal) "The Body Reader makes you want to sit down immediately and browse, and the reading pays off. The essays are wide-ranging, and each covers its topic with scope and depth. Covering theory, praxis, and critique, this anthology is sure to be a favorite for courses in sociology of the body, disability studies, and a variety of womens/gender studies subjects, including science and technology. I highly recommend it!" - Judith Lorber,author of Breaking the Bowls: Degendering and Feminist Change "A powerful exploration of the many ways that bodies and embodiment matter. The editors have carefully selected a mix of classic and original articles, and their section introductions alone will prove an invaluable resource for researchers and teachers. This smart collection is certain to shape the interdisciplinary field of body studies." - Janice Irvine,author of Disorders of Desire: Sexuality and Gender in Modern American Sexology "This collection of essays provides a rich smorgasbord of scholarly approaches to the body, its many meanings and experiences. For readers who want to savor the inter-disciplinarity of this exciting genre of cultural studies, this is an important book to read and have on your shelf." - Joan Jacobs Brumberg,author of The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls