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Exploring the Gendered Body: Cultural Constructions and Political Implications

This lecture discusses the complexities of the gendered body, examining societal constructs that shape perceptions of masculinity and femininity. Topics include how culture influences ideals of the physical body, historical practices like foot binding, female circumcision, and modern surgeries affecting gender identity, such as vaginoplasty and penis enlargement. The intersection of race, gender, and cultural politics is explored, particularly in understanding beauty standards and the portrayal of bodies in society. Key readings by Gloria Steinem and film clips like "My Angry Vagina" provide context for these discussions.

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Exploring the Gendered Body: Cultural Constructions and Political Implications

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  1. March 12th • Sign in, deposit cards • Finish Chasing Amy Discussion • Lecture 6: The Gendered Body • Film Clips: • “My Angry Vagina” • “Private Dick” • Homework: • Steinem, Gloria “If Men Could Menstruate” (CR) http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/steinem.menstruate.html • Research project #2

  2. Lecture 6 The Gendered Body

  3. Constructing the Body • Bodies are not purely biological, but socially constructed • The “ideal” male/female body • Culture affects how we understand our physical bodies and what we do to achieve the ideal form

  4. Ancient Chinese Foot Binding • 10th – 20th century • Young girls and women’s feet were bound to stop growth • 4-5 “ in length

  5. “Hourglass Figure”: Corset and Bustle

  6. Gender, Culture, and the Body • Female Circumcision • or FGC • Clitoridotomy • Clitoridectomy • Infibulation

  7. Breast Augmentation

  8. American Gendered Body • Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery • Vaginoplasty • Labiaplasty • Hymen repair • Penis Enlargement Procedures • Self treatment • Surgery • Is there a NORMAL or perfect penis/vagina…

  9. Private Dick and Vagina Monologues

  10. Bodies and Sexual Politics • The physical body is linked to power in our society • We often view men as ‘more’ powerful because of their physical strength • The biological characteristics of those in power are valued above those with less power • Several contexts in society in which those in power use women’s bodies to: • Exclude them • Justify inequality

  11. Race, the Body, and Gender Politics • The female body is politicized as a place where race and gender are enacted • Race, ethnicity, and class are important aspects of American beauty ideals • Society has often judged all women using the white female body as the standard • Hair? • Body Type? • Facial Features?

  12. The Athletic Body: Reinforcing Standards?

  13. Racialized Sexualities: Then • Hottentot Venus (Sarah Barttman) • Brought to Europe in the 1800’s • Represented ‘deviant sexuality’ thru her body • Died in 1815 and she dissected and her genitalia and buttocks were on display till 1970’s

  14. Racialized Sexualities: Now • How does this picture compare to the one of the Hottentot Venus? • Reduced to her body parts • Animalistic • Racial sexualization

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