The Corseted Skeleton: A Bioarchaeology of Binding

by Rebecca Gibson

Unpacking assumptions about corseting, Rebecca Gibson supplements narratives of corseted women from the 18th and 19th centuries with her seminal work on corset-related skeletal deformation. An undergarment that provided support and shape for centuries, the corset occupies a familiar but exotic space in modern consciousness, created by two sometimes contradictory narrative arcs: the texts that women wrote regarding their own corseting experiences and the recorded opinions of the medical community during the 19th century. Combining these texts with skeletal age data and rib and vertebrae measurements from remains at St. Bride’s parish London dating from 1700 to 1900, the author discusses corseting in terms of health and longevity, situates corseting as an everyday practice that crossed urban socio-economic boundaries, and attests to the practice as part of normal female life during the time period Gibson’s bioarchaeology of binding is is the first large-scalar, multi-site bioethnography of the corseted woman.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Medical, Fashion

305 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2020

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just so engaging and pleasurable to read. Dr. Gibson's writing style is taking a very informative book and making it an enjoyable read.

[Goldkehlchen20 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never expected an academic work to reference Sir Mix-A-Lot!
This is a very enjoyable book, part archeological study, part historical/ sociological context, always with a strong emphasis on the humanity of she subjects whose skeletons the author examined. I also really like that the author described her approach and method in such great detail, it's by no means a given, even in academic publications.
Aside from that, it also has some very funny bits (apart from the aforementioned Baby got Back-reference I quite enjoyed the footnote on page 208 for instance).
All in all a great addition to the corset-debate!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched! I think these datasets would best be understood in the full format, i.e. Gibson's dissertation if this material is part of that. She was successful at making this a popular science book, but some of the data did not translate to the limitations of the length of the book

[Rae]

Myth-busting forensics.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at corset wearing from 1700-1900, with a short section on its use in modern fashion as well. It takes on not only the difference it made to womens’ bodies, but also how it became a way to look down on women-not for any acceptable reasons-as well.

[John Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and well-written. Bioarchaeology isn't really my wheelhouse but this was really a fun read.

[Jennifer Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5...non-fiction isn't my favorite read, but I found this topic really interesting. I still took me longer to get through it, but I'm glad I found out more about corsets through history.