The Body in Society (ePub)

In everyday life we are not, for the most part, actively
conscious of our bodies or the bodies of others - we simply
take them for granted. This new edition of a lively introduction to
the sociology of the body examines what certain aspects of our
bodies, such as the size, shape, smell and demeanour, reveal about
the social organization of everyday life and how the body is
crucial to the way we engage with the world and the people around
us.

The human body is endowed with varied forms of social
significance which sociology has addressed by asking questions such
as: To what degree do individuals have control over their own
bodies? What interest does the state have in regulating the human
body? How significant is the body to the development and
performance of the self in everyday life? What images of the body
influence people's expectations of themselves and others?
Written in a clear and comprehensible way, The Body in
Society introduces students to the key conceptual frameworks
that help us to understand the social significance of the human
body. This second edition has been thoroughly updated to take into
account recent theories and debates and also includes enhanced
pedagogical features. Using familiar examples from everyday life,
such as diet and exercise regimes, personal hygiene, dress,
displays of emotion, and control over bodily functions, coupled
with examples from popular culture, the text has strong
contemporary relevance and will strike a chord with all who read
it.

This book will be essential reading for students taking courses
on the body in sociology, anthropology, gender studies and cultural
studies.