The body occupies a prime position in contemporary theoretical work, yet there is no consensus on what it is and what constitutes it. Contested Bodies brings together a number of different accounts and perspectives on the body, drawing out some of the key connections and disjunctures from this most contested of topics. From revealing attempts at applying abstract body theory to real bodies, to an examination of the consumption of princess's bodies in popular culture and thoughts on the 'virtual' nature of the transgendered body, this volume features fresh and fascinating contributions from some of the leading thinkers and upcoming theorists in the field. Themes that run through the work include the place of the body in theory, the notion of labour in the production of bodies and the transformative potential of bodies on spaces. Contributors include: David Bell; Gargi Bhattacharyya; Richard Collier; Mark Featherstone; Ruth Holiday; Lynda Johnston; Robyn Longhurst; Leslie J. Moran; Sally R. Munt; John O'Neill; Diane Roberts; Karen Stevenson; Graham Thompson and Stephen Whittle