The Commodification of the Body and its Parts

TLDR

The human body and its parts have long been commodified across cultures, and understanding commodification requires examining the body's cultural significance and defining what constitutes a body part. The article outlines dominant anthropological theories of commodification, foregrounding Mauss and Marx, and proposes an integrated theoretical vision that encourages cross‑fertilization of approaches and the inclusion of an ethics of body commodification. The discussion surveys historically documented forms of body commodification—slavery, female reproduction, sorcery, and endocannibalism—and examines emergent biotechnologies such as reproductive technologies, organ transplantation, cosmetic and transsexual surgeries, genetics, immunology, and the cyborg. The analysis reveals that established theoretical approaches continue to shape current studies of body commodification.

Abstract

The human body--and its parts--has long been a target for commodification within myriad cultural settings. A discussion of commodification requires that one consider, first, the significance of the body within anthropology and, second, what defines a body "part." After exploring these initial questions, this article outlines dominant theoretical approaches to commodification within anthropology, with Mauss and Marx figuring prominently. The discussion then turns to historically well-documented forms of body commodification: These include slavery and other oppressive labor practices; female reproduction; and the realms of sorcery and endocannibalism. An analysis here uncovers dominant established approaches that continue to drive current studies. The remainder of this article concerns emergent biotechnologies, whose application in clinical and other related scientific arenas marks a paradigmatic shift in anthropological understandings of the commodified, fragmented body. The following contexts are explored with care: reproductive technologies; organ transplantation; cosmetic and transsexual surgeries; genetics and immunology; and, finally, the category of the cyborg. The article concludes with suggestions for an integrated theoretical vision, advocating greater cross-fertilization of analytical approaches and the inclusion of an ethics of body commodification within anthropology.