With its roots in Middle Eastern and North African dance; belly dance is a popular leisure activity in the West with women (and some men) of all ages and body types pursing the activity for diverse reasons. Drawing on empirical research; fieldwork; and interviews with participants; this book investigates the social world and small group cultures of American belly dance; examining the various ways in which people use leisure to construct the self and social relationships. With attention to gender expectations; body image; sexuality; community; spiritual experiences; and the process of identifying with a leisure activity; this book shows how people engage in the same pursuit in a variety of ways. It sheds light on the manner in which dancers strive to deal with the challenges presented by internal power struggles and legitimacy bids; public beliefs; narrow cultural ideals of beauty and often sexualized assumptions about their art. A fascinating study of identity work and the reproduction and challenging of gender norms through a gendered leisure activity; Gendered Bodies and Leisure: The Practice and Performance of American Belly Dance will be of interest to students and scholars researching gender and sexuality; the sociology of leisure; the sociology of the body and interactionist thought.
#3780879 in eBooks 2001-04-01 2016-07-14File Name: B01IFKKNKI
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