Feminist figure girl : look hot while you fight the patriarchy / Lianne McTavish.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McTavish, Lianne, 1967-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Feminism--History--21st century.

Feminism.

Feminism and sports.

Women bodybuilders.

History.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xxx, 186 pages, 9 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, 2015.

Summary:

Feminist Figure Girl chronicles the transformation of art history professor Lianne McTavish, from a university professor into an extraordinarily tanned and crystal-encrusted-bikini-wearing "figure girl." Figure competitions seek a softer appearance than traditional forms of bodybuilding but still require rigorous weightlifting, an extreme protein diet, and many hours of posing in high heels. While training for a figure show, McTavish combined autoethnographic methods, participant observation, and feminist theory to find new ways of thinking about physique culture and the female body. The author, who specializes in critical visual culture and the history of the body, explores such contemporary issues as body image, fat studies, identity politics, and "postfeminism," while rethinking fitness culture, diet regimes, feminist politics, reproductive activism, performance art, and the social function of photography. Written in a lively personal style reminiscent of McTavish's popular blog, she clearly explains the complex ideas stemming from the theoretical work of such writers as Judith Butler, Simone de Beauvoir, Michel Foucault, Iris Marion Young, Edmund Husserl, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. The book also includes many photos documenting McTavish's physical transformation. Book jacket.

Contents:

List of illustrations

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Becoming feminist figure girl

Measuring up : comparing bodybuilding, weight watchers, and yoga

Embodiment and the event of muscle failure

Replacing feminism : comparing pro-choice activism with becoming a figure girl

On stage : performing feminist figure girl

Aftermath : the photographs in my purse

Conclusions

Notes

Glossary

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 169-182) and index.

ISBN:

9781438454771

1438454775

9781438454764

1438454767

OCLC:

881386301