Virtually Virgins: Sexual Strategies and Cervical Cancer in Recife, Brazil by Je

Description: Virtually Virgins by Jessica L. Gregg This book examines the conflict between cultural ideals of female sexuality in Brazil and the lived reality of sex for women in a poor shantytown in the countrys northeast, probing the interplay between sexual expectations, sexual reality, and disease. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description This book provides a detailed, intimate portrait of a community of women living in a shantytown (favela) in northeastern Brazil, while exploring the complex interplay between gender, sexuality, power and disease. It reveals how poor Brasileiras are constrained by dominant cultural constructions of female sexuality as a dangerous force that must be controlled by men; yet these women also manipulate these expectations by using their sexuality as a means to secure economic support from men. The book argues that these constructions affect their interpretations of medical discourse on the prevention of cervical cancer. Since women view sex as both a force they cant control and as a necessary tool for their survival, they choose to de-emphasize medical warnings against risky sexual behaviour, with grave consequences for their health. The text is threaded with poignant, humorous, sometimes graphic, and always memorable depictions of womens lives in the shantytowns, making this serious anthropological study a highly readable one as well. Back Cover "Virtuallly Virgins is a detailed, intimate ethnography of the cancers that afflict the social environment and the social body--real and metaphoric....Because this book is written in accessible language with careful and respectful works and a sense of unapologetic caring and competence, anthropologists should read, use it in classes, and recommend it."---American Ethnologist Flap This book provides a detailed, intimate portrait of a community of women living in a shantytown (favela) in northeastern Brazil, while exploring the complex interplay between gender, sexuality, power, and disease. It reveals how poor Brasileiras are constrained by dominant cultural constructions of female sexuality as a dangerous force that must be controlled by men; yet these women also manipulate these expectations by using their sexuality as a means to secure economic support from men. The book argues that these constructions affect their interpretations of medical discourse on the prevention of cervical cancer. Since women view sex as both a force they cant control and as a necessary tool for their survival, they choose to de-emphasize medical warnings against risky sexual behavior, with grave consequences for their health. The text is threaded with poignant, humorous, sometimes graphic, and always memorable depictions of the womens lives in the shantytowns, making this serious anthropological study a highly readable one as well. Author Biography Jessica L. Gregg is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Public Health at Tulane University. Table of Contents 1. Introduction: Culture, Gender, and Ethnography 2. The Ilha: Life in a Brazilian Shantytown 14 3. "A Woman Has to Stay in the House": Gender and Sexuality in the Ilha 27 4. Sexuality and Risk: Biomedical Constructions of Brasileira Sexuality 40 5. Sexuality as Survival: Favelada Constructions of Womens Sexuality 55 6. Expedient Boundaries: Security and Agency in the Ilha 76 7. Rearranging Risk: Local Understandings of the Pap Smear 89 8. "Ive Eaten so Many Good Men SinceYou Left": Liberdade, Resistance, and Ambivalence in the Ilha 97 9. "You Get it if You Go out Looking for a Man": Cervical Cancer and Stigma 118 10. Living with Inflammation, Dying from Cancer, and Curing an Incurable Disease 135 11. Some Survivors 156 Appendix One: Methodology 160 Appendix Two: Economic Data for the Sample of Women with Cancer 163 Appendix Three: Impact of Screening Services on Cervical Cancer Morbidity and Mortality 165 Appendix Four: Nonbiomedical Forms of Healing. 169 Notes 177 Works Cited 193 Index 205 Review "Virtuallly Virgins is a detailed, intimate ethnography of the cancers that afflict the social environment and the social body--real and metaphoric....Because this book is written in accessible language with careful and respectful works and a sense of unapologetic caring and competence, anthropologists should read, use it in classes, and recommend it."---American Ethnologist Long Description This book provides a detailed, intimate portrait of a community of women living in a shantytown (favela) in northeastern Brazil, while exploring the complex interplay between gender, sexuality, power, and disease. It reveals how poor Brasileiras are constrained by dominant cultural constructions of female sexuality as a dangerous force that must be controlled by men; yet these women also manipulate these expectations by using their sexuality as a means to secure economic support from men. The book argues that these constructions affect their interpretations of medical discourse on the prevention of cervical cancer. Since women view sex as both a force they cant control and as a necessary tool for their survival, they choose to de-emphasize medical warnings against risky sexual behavior, with grave consequences for their health. The text is threaded with poignant, humorous, sometimes graphic, and always memorable depictions of the womens lives in the shantytowns, making this serious anthropological study a highly readable one as well. Review Quote "Virtuallly Virginsis a detailed, intimate ethnography of the cancers that afflict the social environment and the social body--real and metaphoric....Because this book is written in accessible language with careful and respectful works and a sense of unapologetic caring and competence, anthropologists should read, use it in classes, and recommend it."---American Ethnologist Details ISBN0804747555 Author Jessica L. Gregg Short Title VIRTUALLY VIRGINS Pages 232 Publisher Stanford University Press Language English ISBN-10 0804747555 ISBN-13 9780804747554 Media Book Format Hardcover Year 2003 Imprint Stanford University Press Place of Publication Palo Alto Country of Publication United States Subtitle Sexual Strategies and Cervical Cancer in Recife, Brazil DOI 10.1604/9780804747554 UK Release Date 2003-04-22 AU Release Date 2003-04-22 NZ Release Date 2003-04-22 US Release Date 2003-04-22 Publication Date 2003-04-22 Alternative 9780804779388 DEWEY 306.70820981 Audience General Illustrations 10 tables, 4 illustrations We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:159522295;

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