The Absent Body Project: Cosmetic Surgery as a Response to Bodily Dys-appearance

Sociologists have conceptualized the body as a 'project' that is worked on and transformed as a central part of self-identity (Shilling, 2003). In contrast, Leder's (1990) notion of the 'absent' body focuses on the body's tendency to remain in the 'corporeal backgr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sociology (Oxford) 2006-08, Vol.40 (4), p.699-716
Main Author: Gimlin, Debra
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attractiveness
Bodies, Old and New
Bodily awareness
Body Image
Breasts
Conceptualization
Consciousness
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetics
Culture
Embodiment
Females
Feminism
General studies
Human body
Identity
Men
Physical appearance
Plastic surgery
Representations of the body
Self Concept
Self consciousness
Self image
Self-perception
Selfconcept
Sensory disorders
Social interaction
Social life
Social organization. Social system. Social structure
Social theory
Sociology
Studies
Surgery
Technology
Women
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Summary:Sociologists have conceptualized the body as a 'project' that is worked on and transformed as a central part of self-identity (Shilling, 2003). In contrast, Leder's (1990) notion of the 'absent' body focuses on the body's tendency to remain in the 'corporeal background' unless specific physiological or social experiences cause it to 'dys-appear', or emerge problematically into direct consciousness. This article draws upon data from interviews with women who have had cosmetic surgery to show that these seemingly contradictory approaches to the body and self-identity are not reconcilable. Specifically, the data presented suggest that while cosmetic surgery provides a resource for bringing the body into line with an existing sense of self, it is also used to alleviate the body's dys-appearances. Thus, this article describes how elements of both the 'absent body' and 'body project' perspectives are relevant to cosmetic surgery patients' experiences of embodiment.
ISSN:0038-0385
1469-8684
DOI:10.1177/0038038506065156