Young Women and the Body: A Feminist Sociology

by L. Frost

Overview

Young Women and the Body sets out to examine why the current generation of young women seem to be deeply unhappy with their own bodies. Dieting and disguising are commonplace, and inflicting serious harm by no means rare in fourteen to eighteen year olds. Despite prophesies to the contrary boys and adults are suffering far less. Drawing on feminist social constructionist perspectives the book seeks to examine this epidemic of body-hatred.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333740903
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	03/30/2001
Edition description:	2001
Pages:	213
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

LIZ FRONT is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She is also a Home Office appointed Mental Health Act Commissioner, regularly visiting psychiatric facilities in the South West of England.

Table of Contents

Dedication Acknowledgements Introduction: The Alien Body What is Body Hatred? The Limits of Self-Reflexivity Adolescence and Body Hatred Teenage Consumers and Body Hatred Sexuality and Body Hatred Young Women's Experience of Body Hatred: Stigma and Shame Young Men and Body Hatred Young Women and the Body: Some Conclusions Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

'An excellent book, refreshing and well written. Creative and compelling, it will prove to be highly popular with students in social science.' - Angela Grier, Leeds Metropolitan University

From the Publisher

Drawing on interviews with girls in clinical and school settings, Palgrave (health and social care, U. of the West of England, Bristol) analyzes the association of modern young Western women with eating disorders from psychiatric, psychological, and feminist perspectives. She concludes from a feminist social constructionist approach that deprecation of the feminine stigmatizes adolescent girls as inferior and results in their "body hatred," while boys' insecurities over consumption center on substance abuse. Includes two case studies, but not methodological notes on the interviews. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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