About the book
The first critical study of personal narrative by women with disabilities, Unruly Bodies examines how contemporary writers use life writing to challenge cultural stereotypes about disability, gender, embodiment, and identity.
Combining the analyses of disability and feminist theories, Susannah Mintz discusses the work of eight American autobiographers: Nancy Mairs, Lucy Grealy, Georgina Kleege, Connie Panzarino, Eli Clare, Anne Finger, Denise Sherer Jacobson, and May Sarton. Mintz shows that by refusing inspirational rhetoric or triumph-over-adversity narrative patterns, these authors insist on their disabilities as a core — but not diminishing — aspect of identity. They offer candid portrayals of shame and painful medical procedures, struggles for the right to work or to parent, the inventive joys of disabled sex, the support and the hostility of family, and the losses and rewards of aging. Mintz demonstrates how these unconventional stories challenge feminist idealizations of independence and self-control and expand the parameters of what counts as a life worthy of both narration and political activism. Unruly Bodies also suggests that atypical life stories can redefine the relation between embodiment and identity generally.
Editions of Unruly Bodies
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807831335
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807858301
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807877630
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469606163
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890882257
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893132908
Read an Excerpt
The first critical study of personal narrative by women with disabilities, Unruly Bodies examines how contemporary writers use life writing to challenge cultural stereotypes about disability, gender, embodiment, and identity.
Combining the analyses of disability and feminist theories, Susannah Mintz discusses the work of eight American autobiographers: Nancy Mairs, Lucy Grealy, Georgina Kleege, Connie Panzarino, Eli Clare, Anne Finger, Denise Sherer Jacobson, and May Sarton. Mintz shows that by refusing inspirational rhetoric or triumph-over-adversity narrative patterns, these authors insist on their disabilities as a core — but not diminishing — aspect of identity. They offer candid portrayals of shame and painful medical procedures, struggles for the right to work or to parent, the inventive joys of disabled sex, the support and the hostility of family, and the losses and rewards of aging. Mintz demonstrates how these unconventional stories challenge feminist idealizations of independence and self-control and expand the parameters of what counts as a life worthy of both narration and political activism. Unruly Bodies also suggests that atypical life stories can redefine the relation between embodiment and identity generally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unruly Bodies about?
The first critical study of personal narrative by women with disabilities, Unruly Bodies examines how contemporary writers use life writing to challenge cultural stereotypes about disability, gender, embodiment, and identity.
Combining the analyses of disability and feminist theories, Susannah Mintz discusses the work of eight American autobiographers: Nancy Mairs, Lucy Grealy, Georgina Kleege, Connie Panzarino, Eli Clare, Anne Finger, Denise Sherer Jacobson, and May Sarton. Mintz shows that by refusing inspirational rhetoric or triumph-over-adversity narrative patterns, these authors insist on their disabilities as a core — but not diminishing — aspect of identity. They offer candid portrayals of shame and painful medical procedures, struggles for the right to work or to parent, the inventive joys of disabled sex, the support and the hostility of family, and the losses and rewards of aging. Mintz demonstrates how these unconventional stories challenge feminist idealizations of independence and self-control and expand the parameters of what counts as a life worthy of both narration and political activism. Unruly Bodies also suggests that atypical life stories can redefine the relation between embodiment and identity generally.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Unruly Bodies?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of Unruly Bodies?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807831335
How long is Unruly Bodies and how many pages does it have?
Unruly Bodies has 264 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Unruly Bodies?
Susannah B. Mintz
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Unruly Bodies is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807831335) and paperback(ISBN 9780807858301) and ebook(ISBN 9780807877630) and ebook(ISBN 9781469606163) and ebook(ISBN 9798890882257) and ebook(ISBN 9798893132908)
Where can I buy Unruly Bodies online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Unruly Bodies from below
Where can I buy Unruly Bodies?