Curvology

July 15, 2015
The biology, culture, and vanities perennially orbiting the female body.Motivated by specific behavioral and cultural observations, British zoologist and veterinary surgeon Bainbridge (Clinical Veterinary Anatomy/Cambridge Univ.; Middle Age: A Natural History, 2012) shares insightful musings on the nature and genesis of female physical dissatisfaction. He divides his exploration into three sections (The Body, The Mind, The World), each supporting different aspects of an argument stating that while the female body is unique, important, and precious, it is also guided and goaded by influential cultural and societal scrutiny. Flush with fascinating statistical data, the book's introductory chapters spotlight the author's animal biology background. In mapping human anatomy, Bainbridge examines the sexual dimorphisms of male and female torsos and the anthropological origins and evolutionary heritage of a woman's curvaceous adipose tissue. Men emerge as key figures in determining what constitutes superficial attractiveness in the opposite sex, and they often contribute to an unmanageable fixation on body image for many women. Less effective and redundant is a section explaining the nature of appetite and size between the sexes and of the historic female "control systems" that make dieting willpower so elusive. Bainbridge focuses too heavily on the evolutionary theories of eating disorders and the "cult of thinness" rather than validating contemporary beliefs related to the complex mechanics of the human brain or to modern society and culture, which, to him, seem "disturbing." Ultimately, the author concedes that regardless of clinical and social attempts to counter the trend and where exactly blame should be placed for perpetuating pathological female self-surveillance, women's obsessions with their bodies will endure, even as they are "continually told that it is becoming too large, too small, too exploited." An articulate yet debatable and uneven survey of the endlessly beguiling female form.

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November 1, 2015
In this ode to the female form, Bainbridge, a Cambridge Universitytrained zoologist, explains why he thinks humans are the only animals with big hips and breasts: body shape is a reliable indicator of a woman's genetic health and her future ability to conceive and rear children. Big bottoms store fat that fuels the growth of children's brains through breast milk. Bainbridge calls femininity, health, and fertility the big three' desirable features for a heterosexual man's mate and argues that both sexes see symmetrical, attractive women with average features and even skin tone as healthier, smarter, more sociable, and more employable. Often he veers into overall appearance (tattoos, hair removal, makeup, clothes) rather than sticking to curves. For example, he says women are three times more likely to wear attention-grabbing red or pink around the time of ovulation. He gives a lot of weight to weight: when the economy is lean, styles favor fuller figures. A selected bibliography and index are helpful, but readers may want to see more studies and original research to support his conclusions.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)