|
Showing 1 - 2 of
2 matches in All Departments
Female anatomy, especially the womb, has for centuries been
shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding, defining the social place
of women in male dominated cultures. Even with advances in
medicine, some in today's society believe they can control women's
sexual identity.
The Wandering Womb is a provocative tour through religious,
medical, and social histories, pinpointing humorous, outrageous,
and hair-raising beliefs, practices, and longstanding falsehoods
that permeate human cultures. In Egyptian times, it was believed
that the womb was an entity unto itself capable of "wandering" in
the body, and also into the world beyond in search of nourishment
This idea, and many others were entwined in medical ignorance and
religious superstition, which have often labeled women as
incomplete, inferior, imperfect, and even inherently evil.
Sexual myths have viewed menstruation as dirty, designing
outrageous rituals around this natural process, from strange diets
and prescriptions to mandated isolation and violent practices.
Sexuality and desire in women has been viewed as taboo and
dangerous, while child rearing is considered the highest calling.
In Western history, women's health problems were often written off
simply as an "unsatisfied uterus," or "hysteria" of their weak and
demon possessed bodies, while physical characteristics were used to
label women as witches.
This fascinating, often maddening romp through the bedrooms and
birthing rooms of time illustrates why women have been sexually
"enslaved," and reminds us that we've come a long way from the
mythical virgin birth to women's liberation and beyond.
This book provides a complete history of plastic surgery, a
description of the modern techniques and choices available, and an
overview of the controversies surrounding the choice to voluntarily
change your physical appearance. Plastic surgery was historically
considered a medical necessity. These were procedures specifically
developed to treat burn or accident victims, to correct those born
with cleft palates, or to repair extreme cases of cosmetic
disfigurement, such as amputations performed as a punishment for
adulterous men. Today, however, plastic surgery is a common option
for those seeking to modify their normal and uninjured bodies to
conform to an unrealistic, idealized model of perfection. This book
presents the fascinating history of how therapeutic techniques were
adapted to offer cosmetic changes to patients without disfiguring
bodily flaws. The first section of Plastic Surgery details this
evolution by tracing the history from development of the medical
techniques to the choices currently available today. The second
section digs deeper to examine the controversies and issues
associated with plastic surgery, such as race, beauty, and gender
reassignment. The third section offers primary documents produced
by medical authorities regarding accepted procedures and practices,
as well as an expansive glossary and timeline. Presents essays by
Thomas Mutter-namesake of the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia-on his
techniques for burn victims Provides illustrations depicting
examples of plastic surgery ranging from the Renaissance to the
21st century Includes a useful bibliography of primary sources
Contains a glossary explaining medical and body orientation terms
|
|