Immaculate Forms

Uncovering the History of Women's Bodies

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Immaculate Forms

By: Helen King

Narrated by: Elaine Claxton

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About this listen

Throughout history, religious scholars, medical men and - occasionally - women themselves, have moulded thought on what 'makes' a woman. She has been called the weaker sex, the fairer sex, the purer sex, among many other monikers. Often, she has been defined simply as 'Not A Man'.

Today, we are more aware than ever of the complex relationship between our bodies and our identities. But contrary to what some may believe, what makes a woman is a question that has always been open-ended.

Immaculate Forms examines all the ways in which medicine and religion have played a gatekeeping role over women's organs. It explores how the womb was seen as both the most miraculous organ in the body and as a sewer; uncovers breasts' legacies as maternal or sexual organs - or both; probes the mystery of the disappearing hymen, and asks, did the clitoris need to be discovered at all?

Helen KingElaine ClaxtonProfile Audio

Gender Studies

Physical Illness & Disease

Social Sciences

Women

Gender Studies Physical Illness & Disease Social Sciences Women

Most relevant

This book is a wonderful medical, social, and cultural history of the myriad ways in which women's bodies have been interpreted and understood from the ancient world to the present day. It is rigorous, surprising, insightful and witty too.

A revelatory history

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An excellent book. A really interesting and in depth insight into the history of Women's bodies. I listened to each section separately and found that there was much to think about. The readings was easy to listen to.

A fascinating insight

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