The body project : an intimate history of American girls

by Joan Jacobs Brumberg

Paper Book, 1998

Status

Available

Genres

Publication

New York : Vintage Books, 1998.

Description

A hundred years ago, women were lacing themselves into corsets and teaching their daughters to do the same. The ideal of the day, however, was inner beauty: a focus on good deeds and a pure heart. Today American women have more social choices and personal freedom than ever before. But fifty-three percent of our girls are dissatisfied with their bodies by the age of thirteen, and many begin a pattern of weight obsession and dieting as early as eight or nine. Why? In The Body Project, historian Joan Jacobs Brumberg answers this question, drawing on diary excerpts and media images from 1830 to the present. Tracing girls' attitudes toward topics ranging from breast size and menstruation to hair, clothing, and cosmetics, she exposes the shift from the Victorian concern with character to our modern focus on outward appearance--in particular, the desire to be model-thin and sexy. Compassionate, insightful, and gracefully written, The Body Project explores the gains and losses adolescent girls have inherited since they shed the corset and the ideal of virginity for a new world of sexual freedom and consumerism--a world in which the body is their primary project.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member wiremonkey

The one thing that seems to be missing in our eternal quest for sveltness is Perspective, with a capital P. All this navel gazing, or in my case, navel hating, creates this unhealthy vortex of self-obsessed negativity that has a gravitational pull the likes of a black hole. The Body Project by Joan

Jacobs Brumberg provides this Perspective in spades. A history of Amercian adolescent girls from the 19th century to the 20th century, the book covers the changing attitudes concerning menstruation, skin, body image, and sex for this period. Consumerism as well as medical and corporate appropriation of subjects that were traditionally the domain of elder females is a constant vein throughout the 20th century. Another important theme in her book is the fact that girls now develop physically much earlier than before yet their mental development has not kept pace with their bodies. Although a girl may menstruate at the age of twelve, she does not have the maturity level to consider sex responsibly, nor does she know how to process burgeoning sexual desires. This gap in the physical/emotional development coincides with a new era of sexual freedom never before seen in history. Brumberg makes the point that the number of teenage mothers in the United States is a direct result of society’s neglect towards their daughters and that we need to begin instilling a code of sexual ethics in our youth. This, of course, is very interesting to me who has two prepubescent daughters. How to navigate them safely through this pop culture steeped in sexual references is no easy task I assure you, especially when you still feel like you are in the grip of these messages yourself. Concerning body image, Brumberg has several interesting points, the main one being that instead of outer control of our bodies in the guise of corsets, etc., we have internalised these controls for smaller waistlines, more sculpted abs and bigger breasts by dieting, and exercising. So although we can boast more freedom in terms of choices and opportunities today, young girls (and most women I know, including, I am ashamed to admit, myself) equate their self worth with the size of their waist and how they look in a slinky black dress. And this is why it is good to read this. On my quest to lose these last fifteen pounds (which may never happen) I am in danger of losing my Perspective. Initially I began to lose weight mainly because I wanted to be an example for my children. You know, show them healthy, moderate eating and exercise habits. Along the way, this laudable excuse morphed into a negative obsession with my body and has played havoc with my self esteem. After having read The Body Project, I am reminded of my original goal and would like to tack on a new one : try my hardest to make my kids know that they are more than the sum of their parts. I guess I should start by remembering this myself.

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LibraryThing member dianemb

A very interesting book in which the author discusses the adolescent female body and the changing expectations of our culture on that body over the last 100 years. She specifically focuses on menstruation, skin, dress, and sex. It is apparent that there have been problems at each stage in history.

The present problem is of girls maturing earlier than they are emotionally ready to handle. She provides a solution to this problem, but it would require a huge change in thinking on the part of most parents.

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LibraryThing member the_hag

I had not expected to enjoy this book, since others of a similar nature that I have read recently have disappointed for the most part…but, enjoy it I did. It was well written and easy to understand…with notes even. I was fascinated on the evolution of body image and cultural expectations of

women from the Victorian era to the present day…very interesting. I think the “trouble” with sexuality, body image, and the like is not going to go away until “we”, as women, accept and embrace who we are and how we look…fat, skinny, small breasts or large…and acknowledge that whatever it is we feel we are lacking, the girl that has it is probably just as angst ridden at what she feels she hasn’t got…the trouble is teaching that to young girls…I know it has been a hard road to my own acceptance of my body. It was a good read! I give it a solid A.

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LibraryThing member zazerh

An interesting history of the evolving relationship between American girls and their bodies that left me wanting more in the way of conclusions or recommendations. While populated with fascinating tidbits, I also found the writing a bit redundant here and there.

LibraryThing member chibiju

I bought this book for a class and ended up being really interested in it. It makes the reader aware of the history of how American girls viewed their bodies. I was particularly interested in the correlation between the rise of advertisements and the changing perceptions of girls (and women) of

their bodies.

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LibraryThing member sshadoan

This one isn't abandoned forever! I just fell into a reading swamp!!! There is too much!!

LibraryThing member patrish11

I liked it. Good study of girls maturing all the way from the Victorian age to the present. Brumberg points out that support and protection from the unrelenting self-scrutiny that the market place and media thrive on, exacerbates self consciousness and encourages precocious sexuality (pg 197).

LibraryThing member Patrish2

not only the history of exploitation of girls, but what has worked and hasn't worked in terms of change. Offers practical steps in helping to make sincere changes towards offering some relief or protection in this culture that encourages prococious sexuality. I liked this book, it was an eye opener

to the horrific abuses heaped on girl children, but also offers hope, not only for our children of the world, but to us as people in power to promote change.

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LibraryThing member wanda2

The attitude towards subjects from haircuts, make-up, clothing, social status, ethnic/color, pimples, dieting and exercising to girls losing their virginity is no longer taboo in the 21st century. It has drastically changed since the Victorian era, which focused on intellect, etiquette and making

the right social choices that a girl should make. I believe The Body Project is still very prevalent among girls today because it helps define their self worth, esteem and value for acceptance in the world. The menarche seems to be the common thread throughout The Body Project which suggests there’s something about coming into puberty and the once-a-month course of a woman’s life that keeps her on a pendulum of change. The slimming of Yvonne Blue was intriguing because this exists now and the “protective umbrella” is declining on a much larger scale. We must find ways to continue the advocacy that fosters forums leading to a healthier and creative future for this next generation of girls.

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LibraryThing member SeriousGrace

The Body Project is centered on female adolescence and body image. Probably the most fascinating aspect to The Body Project is Brumberg's collection of diaries she used as research for the narrative. She could draw on the experiences of Victorian era girls as if she had interviewed them just

yesterday. She is able to compare perceptions throughout the ages and the changing times. There is special attention paid to how mothers relate to their daughters. Take for example, menarche and menstruation. When mothers teach their daughters about the process they talk about how to "take care of it" meaning the bleeding, but rarely do they explain why the blood is happening in the first place. Brumberg cites a distinct disconnect between menstruation and fertility. Mothers even do not fully explain what is physically happening to their daughters' bodies.
It's as if Brumberg needs to be that mother figure for young girls. The Body Project has a whole chapter on acne: pimples and blackheads, calling it the plague of youth or a sign of poverty. Not only is the history of the treatment of acne covered, but how marketing took advantage of the plight of teenagers with unclear skin. Eye opening for me was when Brumberg addressed masturbation and the misconception it causes acne. I have to admit, I never heard of that. Wasn't the theory you would go blind?
Another body project is more well known - the desire to be thin. One girl didn't want to attend Mount Holyoke for fear of gaining weight. She had heard the food was quite good but her goal was to lose weight, not gain it.
A word of warning: Brumberg focusses mainly on middle class girls and all of her reporting is from mid-nineties statistics. Despite that, it is an interesting read.

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