Writing on the Body: Female Embodiment and Feminist Theory

Gender and Culture Series

by Katie Conboy (Editor), Nadia Medina (Editor), Sarah Stanbury (Editor)

In many fields, the body is the topic generating exciting new research and interdisciplinary inquiry. Feminist theorists, in particular, have focused on the female body as the site where representations of difference and identity are inscribed. Drawn from a broad range of disciplines, Writing on the Body explores the tensions between women's lived bodily experiences and the cultural meanings inscribed on the female body. The volume includes classic and contemporary essays on rape, pornography, eroticism, anorexia, body building, menstruation, and maternity, and challenges racial, class and sexual categories. Complemented by the editors' introduction, Writing on the Body is a comprehensive sourcebook on the major theoretical positions and critical trends surrounding the female body.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Theory, Sociology, Feminist Theory, Gender Studies, Essays

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Kathleen]

this book changed my life. truly.

[Sabrina]

great collection of essays. would love to see a new edition of this with the same caliber and focus with work from the last 30 years, since this is from the 90s.

[Patrick]

This book is a MUCH better introduction to feminism (especially feminism related to sex and the body) than Feminism and Pornography (which I read right before this one).

Although this is a taxing read at times, it is much more entertaining than some of the more dry and academic literature on feminism. If you want something better than a dumbed down primer on feminism, but not to be bored to death, this is a good start.

[Chris Ma]

A good anthology, but editing could have been better. There is no index of keywords, which could be very useful for an eclectic anthology like this, and not enough introductions to lay out the background and context.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf)]

A good introduction to the problems with the objectification and 'othering' of the female body, and the academic work being undertaken in the last twenty years. A bit 'dry' in places, it was overall very informative. Rating: 3.5 stars.

[Jen]

Contains an essay by Judith Butler titled "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory."

[Amanda Patterson]

Interesting.
However, it's been said before.
And it's been said better.