ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book demonstrates the ways in which qualitative research can further our sociological understanding of the body in contemporary society. It deals with only a small selection out of the huge range of topics relevant to the sociology of the body, and describes the continued 'presence' of the body even in social communications on the apparently 'disembodied' internet. The book explores the way internet users resist the 'invisibility' of the body in computer internet interactions by introducing signs, codes and expressions which convey 'physical' characteristics. It shows how sufferers from inflammatory bowel disease are free to reinvent their physical selves by carefully selecting the information they convey to others on the internet. The book examines media images of women's bodies and utilizes an interpretive approach to assess their impact on the identities of three distinct groups of women.