Body Social, The

Synopsis

Argues that in our society it is hard to avoid believing that a woman’s appearance is the most important thing about her. Deviations from the ‘ideal’ norm are not appreciated - Britain’s Ladies Heavyweight Bodybuilding Champion, Loretta Lomax, attests to that. Elizabeth Wilson, Professor of Sociology at the University of North London, says women’s clothes are the main way in which people ‘enter culture’ and become social beings. The problem arises with the meanings they must express in a society still dominated by patriarchal attitudes and stereotypical images. Photographer Jo Spence has made the politics of appearance the subject of her art and she explores here the dilemmas experienced by women to whom the ideals are oppressive.

Series

Issues in Women’s Studies, Course U207

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 24 min.

Year of production

1992

Availability

Sale; 1998 sale: £145.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Subjects

Women’s studies

Keywords

feminism; sexual stereotyping

Credits

Producer

Meg Sheffield

Contributor

Jo Spence

Cast

Chris Mohr

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk