Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/79029
Title: In her own image? : a cultural study of cosmetic breast enhancement
Authors: Tonna, Caroline (2008)
Keywords: Human body -- Social aspects -- Malta
Surgery, Plastic -- Social aspects -- Malta
Augmentation mammaplasty -- Social aspects -- Malta
Issue Date: 2008
Citation: Tonna, C. (2008). In her own image?: a cultural study of cosmetic breast enhancement (Bachelor's dissertation).
Abstract: My point of departure in my research was based on Abu-Lughod’s (1993:13) ethnographic technique by stressing the particularity of the experience of informants, ‘before and after’ their cosmetic intervention to build a picture of them from their individual discussion, recollections, and actions giving attention to their emotions and discourse and their notion of ‘normality’. The daily experiences of my informants : the doxa as itself explained by Abu-Lughod and Lutz (1990:2) showed that ‘emotions are things internal, irrational and natural’ which will be traced, exposed and questioned throughout the process of my fieldwork. My focus was on moments of vulnerability during which these women, because of their small and/or sagging breasts, passed through embarrassment, insecurity, social tension and conflicts. I specifically focused on some Maltese women who have undergone elective breast augmentation which I shall refer to as breast enhancement, a practice, that in recent years, has enjoyed a large clientele owing to its rapidly growing popularity and social acceptance in the Maltese society.
Description: B.A.(HONS)ANTHROPOLOGY
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/79029
Appears in Collections:Dissertations - FacArt - 1999-2010
Dissertations - FacArtAS - 1993-2009

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