Customer Reviews

The Woman in the Body: A Cultural Analysis of Reproduction

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Though it may seem a little dated, the issues and questions Martin raises are still relevant today. This thoughtful book speaks to the alienation and detachment many women feel at the hands of modern Western medicine and should be of interest to anyone studying medical anthropology, cultural andthropology, sociology, or women's studies. Some people may have problems with the methodology or feel that the book is pushing a feminist agenda (personally, I thought the chapter on PMS was a little muddy) but most people I know who've read it have found something in it that they can relate to even if they don't agree with Martin 100%.

A great and serious study about the "images" we create about our body. A clarified explanation about how the medical comunity sees and creates an idea of what the woman body is, by exploring some medical texts about reproduction, menopause or maternity.

And boy did I feel like a woman reading this one. I didn't finish it though and when I skipped ahead, it started to sound overly analytical and pretentious. However, I can't talk down this anthropologist. She has so much to offer anthropology and is truly gifted in her influential writing, the detailed subject matter, the matter of fact-but still emotional language is intriguing. I wish I could speak to her!

Being a woman still in the child birthing it really opened my eyes how a male dominant world make a woman feel she has no choices! Emily Martin even goes into the aspects of menopause and a woman's period and why some feel so ashamed by it. It definitely is a must read for Anthropology students!

I was very impressed with this book. It covers the anthropological view of reproduction, including historical perspective, menses, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. I recommend it for anyone interested in anthropology, women studies and especially for anyone pregnant.