Body Studies ― An Introduction

In recent years, body studies has expanded rapidly, becoming an increasingly popular field of study within anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. This ground-breaking textbook takes the topics and theories from these disciplines, and combines them into one single, easily-accessible text for students.

Body Studies is a comprehensive textbook on the social and cultural uses and meanings of the body, for use in undergraduate college courses. Its clear, accessible chapters explore, among other things:

• the measurement and classification of the human body
• illness and healing
• the racialized body
• the gendered body
• cultural perceptions of beauty
• new bodily technologies.

This book investigates how power plays an important role in the uses, views, and shapes of the body—as well as how the body is invested with meaning. Body Studies provides a wealth of pedagogic features for ease of teaching and learning: ethnographic case studies, boxes covering contemporary controversies, news stories, and legislative issues, as well as chapter summaries, further reading recommendations and key terms. This book will appeal to students and teachers of sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, women’s studies, gender studies and ethnic studies.

Margo DeMello is a Lecturer in the Department of Communications, Humanities and Social Sciences at Central New Mexico Community College. Her books include Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community, Encyclopedia of Body Adornment, Feet and Footwear, and Faces Around the World.