Immaculate Forms - Uncovering the History of Women's Bodies

Throughout history, religious scholars, medical men and - occasionally - women themselves, have moulded thought on what ''makes'' a woman. She has been called the weaker sex, the fairer sex, the purer sex, among many other monikers. Often, she has been defined simply as ''Not A Man''. Today, we are more aware than ever of the complex relationship between our bodies and our identities. But contrary to what some may believe, what makes a woman is a question that has always been open-ended. Immaculate Forms examines all the ways in which medicine and religion have played a gatekeeping role over women''s organs. It explores how the womb was seen as both the most miraculous organ in the body and as a sewer; uncovers breasts'' legacies as maternal or sexual organs - or both; probes the mystery of the disappearing hymen, and asks, did the clitoris need to be discovered at all?

Product details

• Authors: HELEN KING, Helen King, King Helen
• Publisher: Profile Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 05.09.2024
• EAN: 9781788163873
• ISBN: 978-1-78816-387-3
• No. of pages: 400
• Dimensions: 164 mm x 236 mm x 42 mm
• Subjects: Guides > Health; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Gender Studies, Social & cultural history, MEDICAL / Reproductive Medicine & Technology, HISTORY / Women, History of Medicine, Ancient World, Feminism & feminist theory, Social and cultural history, Gender studies: women, Feminism and feminist theory, Gender studies: women and girls, Popular medicine and health