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March 12 th. 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.
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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
Lecture 6 The Gendered Body
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
Ancient Chinese Foot Binding • 10th – 20th century • Young girls and women’s feet were bound to stop growth • 4-5 “ in length
Gender, Culture, and the Body • Female Circumcision • or FGC • Clitoridotomy • Clitoridectomy • Infibulation
American Gendered Body • Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery • Vaginoplasty • Labiaplasty • Hymen repair • Penis Enlargement Procedures • Self treatment • Surgery • Is there a NORMAL or perfect penis/vagina…
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
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?
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
Racialized Sexualities: Now • How does this picture compare to the one of the Hottentot Venus? • Reduced to her body parts • Animalistic • Racial sexualization