Chapter 7 Sociology of the Body PDF

Chapter 7 Sociology of the Body Key Progressive Processes (Shilling 2003) Socialization: Natural functions are hidden and the body is viewed in social terms. Rationalization: People control their emotions and behavior in a more rational manner. Individualization: Bodies are seen as s...

Chapter 7 Sociology of the Body Key Progressive Processes (Shilling 2003) Socialization: Natural functions are hidden and the body is viewed in social terms. Rationalization: People control their emotions and behavior in a more rational manner. Individualization: Bodies are seen as separate from others, maintaining social distance and managing body presentation. Body and Modern Identity The way we manage and present our bodies is crucial for forming and maintaining modern identity (Goffman 1959). Uncertain Bodies in Late Modern Societies Body and Modern Identity The way we manage and present our bodies is crucial for forming and maintaining modern identity (Goffman 1959). Uncertain Bodies in Late Modern Societies Risk and Uncertainty Contemporary societies are characterized by risk and doubt (Giddens 1991; Beck 1992; Douglas 1986). Traditional identities based on social class, family, gender, and locality are no longer stable. Self-identity becomes a reflexively organized endeavor, relying on flexible, continuously revised biographical narratives (Featherstone and Hepworth 1991). Historical and Social Contingency of Body Perceptions Our understanding of bodies is shaped by broader social transformations. The experience of the body is inherently social, and there is a push to create flexible, socially acceptable bodies. Body as an Unfinished Phenomenon Shilling (2003) views the body as an unfinished biological and social phenomenon, continually shaped by participation in society. Body projects are increasingly sophisticated and complex, influenced by medical technologies and procedures (e.g., conception techniques, gene therapies, cosmetic surgery). Leder's Concept of the Absent Body Leder describes how the body, while being the most present and inescapable aspect of our lives, often recedes from direct experience, becoming "absent" in our routine actions (Leder 1990). Embodiment in the Lifeworld The lived body both constructs and is constructed by the lifeworld. It is an intentional entity that helps constitute the world through sensory, motor, and linguistic engagements (Leder 1992). The German distinction between Leib (the experiential, living body) and Körper (the objective, exterior body) highlights the difference between having a body, doing a body, and being a body (Turner 1992). Reflexive Embodiment Nick Crossley introduces the concept of "reflexive embodiment," integrating Foucault's and Giddens' theories with early interactionist insights (Crossley 2006). This concept involves individuals reflecting on their bodies through social networks, influenced by how they believe others perceive them (Cooley 1902, Mead 1967). The New Genetics Human Genome Project The completion of the Human Genome Project in 2000 introduced a new discourse on genetic predispositions to diseases and behaviors, reinforcing the idea that our biology shapes our destiny (Conrad and Gabe 1999). This genetic discourse has replaced older notions of heredity, framing personal and familial health in terms of genetic determinism (Spallone 1998).