Investigates ambiguously gendered bodies, from medieval Arabic vice lists and representations of European female saints in late antiquity, to current sodomy laws. The essays locate these "hot" issues in the contemporary politics of sexuality.

This collection of essays investigates ambiguously gendered bodies that defy ideologically produced gender boundaries. "Body Guards" demonstrates that this ambiguity has a long history and a wide cultural reach. Chronologically ordered, the book addresses topics from medieval Arabic vice lists, to representations of European female saints in late antiquity, to current sodomy laws in the United States. "Body Guards" locates a hotly debated set of issues in critical theory, history, cultural studies, and feminist studies within the context of the contemporary politics of sexuality, pathology, and the body. It also studies how gender ambiguity relates to the discourses of gay and lesbian politics, the politics of AIDS education, and conflicts over maternity and foetal rights. Contributors include: Elizabeth Castelli, Anne Rosalind Jones, Peter Stallybrass, Gary Kates, Marjorie Garber, Judith Shapiro, Bonnie B. Spanier and Janet E. Halley. Investigates ambiguously gendered bodies, from medieval Arabic vice lists and representations of European female saints in late antiquity, to current sodomy laws. The essays locate these "hot" issues in the contemporary politics of sexuality.