Virgin
"A well-researched history of virginity . . . In an era marked by a 'chaotic maelstrom of virginities,' Blank's book is a useful . . . antidote to our confusion." - The New York Times Book Review

VIRGIN: The Untouched History is a fascinating and wholly original look at the history of virginity throughout Western culture. From the famous to the infamous, Blank introduces us to the significant players throughout time: the young martyred nuns of Coldingham Abbey, Elizabeth "The Virgin Queen," and more contemporary figures like Donna Martin from Beverly Hills, 90210, with her prime-time virginity loss. VIRGIN provides an enlightening and entertaining look at one of our most unexamined taboos by delving into how and why we've become so obsessed with virginity. With keen insight, Blank attempts to answer some of the fundamental but complicated questions associated with the subject, including what exactly constitutes virginity's loss. She reveals the myriad ways virginity has been tested and contested, guarded and faked, and even restored. And in the process, she shows us just how humans have come to care so much about this fundamentally intangible state in the first place.

"Lively . . . Blank writes with forthright gusto . . . She has juicy time cataloging cultural associations, historical trends . . . and physiological factoids." - Entertainment Weekly

"Scholarly . . . Blank is scrupulous about trying to understand why and how ignorant theories have developed and established themselves." - The San Francisco Chronicle

"A passionate polemic, brimming with a genuine spirit of emancipatory activism." - The Washington Post

"Fascinating . . . her history of virginity's importance to Western culture goes a long way toward explaining why, in the wake of the women's movement, the sexual revolution and the wholesale modernization of American culture, we have abstinence-only sex education, virginity pledges and admiration for chaste pop princesses . . . A pleasure to read." - San Diego Union-Tribune

"Blank touches on virtually every aspect of the indefinable state and the result is something much more enticing than the actual experience of losing it." - Nylon

"A magisterial work of impeccable scholarship and an absolutely riveting read." - Dr. Lesley A. Hall, senior archivist, Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, London
"1100390359"
Virgin
"A well-researched history of virginity . . . In an era marked by a 'chaotic maelstrom of virginities,' Blank's book is a useful . . . antidote to our confusion." - The New York Times Book Review

VIRGIN: The Untouched History is a fascinating and wholly original look at the history of virginity throughout Western culture. From the famous to the infamous, Blank introduces us to the significant players throughout time: the young martyred nuns of Coldingham Abbey, Elizabeth "The Virgin Queen," and more contemporary figures like Donna Martin from Beverly Hills, 90210, with her prime-time virginity loss. VIRGIN provides an enlightening and entertaining look at one of our most unexamined taboos by delving into how and why we've become so obsessed with virginity. With keen insight, Blank attempts to answer some of the fundamental but complicated questions associated with the subject, including what exactly constitutes virginity's loss. She reveals the myriad ways virginity has been tested and contested, guarded and faked, and even restored. And in the process, she shows us just how humans have come to care so much about this fundamentally intangible state in the first place.

"Lively . . . Blank writes with forthright gusto . . . She has juicy time cataloging cultural associations, historical trends . . . and physiological factoids." - Entertainment Weekly

"Scholarly . . . Blank is scrupulous about trying to understand why and how ignorant theories have developed and established themselves." - The San Francisco Chronicle

"A passionate polemic, brimming with a genuine spirit of emancipatory activism." - The Washington Post

"Fascinating . . . her history of virginity's importance to Western culture goes a long way toward explaining why, in the wake of the women's movement, the sexual revolution and the wholesale modernization of American culture, we have abstinence-only sex education, virginity pledges and admiration for chaste pop princesses . . . A pleasure to read." - San Diego Union-Tribune

"Blank touches on virtually every aspect of the indefinable state and the result is something much more enticing than the actual experience of losing it." - Nylon

"A magisterial work of impeccable scholarship and an absolutely riveting read." - Dr. Lesley A. Hall, senior archivist, Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, London
5.99 In Stock
Virgin

Virgin

by Hanne Blank
Virgin

Virgin

by Hanne Blank

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Overview

"A well-researched history of virginity . . . In an era marked by a 'chaotic maelstrom of virginities,' Blank's book is a useful . . . antidote to our confusion." - The New York Times Book Review

VIRGIN: The Untouched History is a fascinating and wholly original look at the history of virginity throughout Western culture. From the famous to the infamous, Blank introduces us to the significant players throughout time: the young martyred nuns of Coldingham Abbey, Elizabeth "The Virgin Queen," and more contemporary figures like Donna Martin from Beverly Hills, 90210, with her prime-time virginity loss. VIRGIN provides an enlightening and entertaining look at one of our most unexamined taboos by delving into how and why we've become so obsessed with virginity. With keen insight, Blank attempts to answer some of the fundamental but complicated questions associated with the subject, including what exactly constitutes virginity's loss. She reveals the myriad ways virginity has been tested and contested, guarded and faked, and even restored. And in the process, she shows us just how humans have come to care so much about this fundamentally intangible state in the first place.

"Lively . . . Blank writes with forthright gusto . . . She has juicy time cataloging cultural associations, historical trends . . . and physiological factoids." - Entertainment Weekly

"Scholarly . . . Blank is scrupulous about trying to understand why and how ignorant theories have developed and established themselves." - The San Francisco Chronicle

"A passionate polemic, brimming with a genuine spirit of emancipatory activism." - The Washington Post

"Fascinating . . . her history of virginity's importance to Western culture goes a long way toward explaining why, in the wake of the women's movement, the sexual revolution and the wholesale modernization of American culture, we have abstinence-only sex education, virginity pledges and admiration for chaste pop princesses . . . A pleasure to read." - San Diego Union-Tribune

"Blank touches on virtually every aspect of the indefinable state and the result is something much more enticing than the actual experience of losing it." - Nylon

"A magisterial work of impeccable scholarship and an absolutely riveting read." - Dr. Lesley A. Hall, senior archivist, Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, London

Product Details

BN ID: 2940157584399
Publisher: Roadswell Editions
Publication date: 01/17/2017
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Hanne Blank spends her time thinking, learning, writing, and speaking at the crossroads of bodies, self, and culture. Joyfully spanning the town/gown divide as well as the mind/body split, her books include the histories Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality (Beacon Press, 2012) and Virgin: The Untouched History (Bloomsbury, 2007), the cult classic sex and body-acceptance books The Unapologetic Fat Girl's Guide to Exercise and Other Incendiary Acts (Ten Speed Press, 2012), Big Big Love: A Sex and Relationships Guide for People of Size (and Those Who Love Them) (Celestial Arts, 2011), and numerous others.

Hanne’s work has been featured in periodicals ranging from Penthouse to Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, and in anthologies ranging from Embodied Resistance: Challenging the Norms, Breaking The Rules to Fucking Daphne: Mostly True Stories and Fictions to Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape.

A former Scholar of the Institute for Teaching and Research on Women at Towson University, Hanne has taught in various capacities on campuses including Brandeis and Tufts. She is also a popular speaker and guest lecturer, with appearances ranging from Harvard University to the inaugural Femme Conference and on topics from the history of the hymen to sex tips for people of all sizes.

Hanne splits her time between north-central Massachusetts and Atlanta, Georgia, and travels frequently to speak and teach. She is a passionate defender of the Oxford comma, is a tea and cider drinker who lives in a coffee and beer country, and has a nice tnetennba.
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