The Woman in the Body: A Cultural Analysis of Reproduction
Over 150 women, representing a variety of ethnic, age, and socioeconomic backgrounds, participated in the survey upon which this book is based. Anthropologist Martin sought to discover how these women experienced the uniquely female functions of menstruation, childbirth, and menopause. Using medical text definitions (which rely heavily upon a model of production/failed production) as a standard, she studied the ideas and attitudes of women she surveyed, finding not unexpected class and age differences in their acceptance (or rejection) of the medical metaphor. She examines how traditional cultures validate women's bodily functions, while industrial society requires women to deny the reality of their bodies. A fascinating study; for academic and large public libraries.Beverly Miller, Boise State Univ. Lib., Id.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.