Minding the Body

A mulitcultural anthology of fiction and non-fiction literary narratives which addresses the psychological and political aspects of a woman's body in today's culture. An important and much-needed book for women who seek to understand their bodies and find independent, imaginative ways to cope with aging, beauty expectations beauty expectations, and ethnic comparisons.

Patricia Foster
“Reading” the Body: An Introduction

Sallie Tisdale
A Weight that Women Carry

Joyce Winter
The Floating Lightbulb

Lucy Grealy
Mirrors

Doris Grumbach
Coming Into the End Zone

Margaret Atwood
The Female Body

Kathryn Harrison
Thicker Than Water

Judith Hooper
Beauty Tips for the Dead

Rosemary Bray
First Stirrings

Pam Houston
Out of Habit, I Start Apologizing

Linda Hogan
Department of the Interior

Connie Porter
Beauty and the Beast

Naomi Wolf
Keep Them Implanted and Ignorant

Hanan al-Shaykh
Inside a Moroccan Bath

Janet Burroway
Changes

Lynne Taetzsch
Fighting Natural

Jenefer Shute
Life-size

Nancy Mairs
Carnal Acts

Patricia Stevens
Stiff Upper Lip

Judith Ortiz Cofer
The Story of My Body

Contributors' Notes

Permissions