The Myth of Bodily Perfection

• Published in: Disability & society Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 413 - 424
• Main Author: STONE, SHARON DALE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon, UK Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.1995; Carfax Pub. Co
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Disability; Factors; Females; Handicapped; Human Body; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Myths; Perceptions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Social Constructionism; Visibility; Human; Handicap; Social representation; Experience; Woman; Body schema

The paper identifies the myth of bodily perfection as one that permeates the dominant culture of late 20th century Western civilization, and points to ways in which the myth supports the creation of an illusory category of people called 'the disabled'. Grounded in an understanding of disab...