ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the gendered dimensions of aesthetic body work practices. Currently, the aesthetic body is a site of intense focus and concern. The aesthetic body is both the target of a range of growing commercial industries, as well as a key focus of academic and theoretical study. Drawing on data from a qualitative study of young people’s body work practices, this chapter explores the aesthetic body work practices of muscle-building and cosmetic surgery. The chapter mobilizes concepts of affect, assemblage and becoming to understand the aesthetically motivated practices of muscle-building and cosmetic surgery. This approach contributes to developing the use of post-human concepts in empirical research. The chapter concludes with a discussion of possible implications for the use of such concepts for physical cultural studies.
