Resumo

ALEMANY ANCHEL, Mª José  e  VELASCO LAISECA, Javier. Gender, image and representation of the body. Index Enferm [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.1, pp.39-43. ISSN 1699-5988.

Through a bibliographical review of feminist authors from disciplines such as history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy and psychology, is tackled the social construction of sex and gender in contemporary society. Stereotypes resulting in feminine and masculine are used by medical science to offer solutions to the supposed imperfection of the bodies. From the world of advertising spreads an ideal pattern that generates the need to periodically rebuild the body to suit the aesthetic standard in force, violating the self-esteem of both men and women.

Palavras-chave : Sex; Gender; Subjectivity; Body image; Medicalization; Metaphors.