Abstract

The body is not only biological but also social in nature. In this contribution we study how social class and gender are associated with preferences for body- oriented practices, reflecting the relationship one has with the body. Theoretically, the theory of Pierre Bourdieu and the concepts ‘male gaze’ and ‘masculinity’, originating from gender studies, are integrated via the intersectional approach. Empirically, a Multiple Correspondence Analysis shows on the one hand that patterns in the orientations towards the body partly match and partly differ among men and women and are associated with the level of education. On the other hand, the analysis demonstrates that class and gender influence each other in complex ways in relation to the body. New processes occur at the intersections of both systems of dominance and oppression.

How to Cite:

Lagaert, S. & Roose, H., (2013) “Lichamen op het kruispunt tussen klasse en gender: sociale klasse, gender en lichaamsoriëntaties in Vlaanderen”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 34(3-4), 270–306. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86832