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Call for Papers (Apologies for cross-posting) Women's Head Hair Issues (Edited collection) Edited by Sigal Barak-Brandes Deadline for Abstracts: 31 December 2016. Recent years have seen extensive literature relating to the need to understand the body in the context of society and culture. Rather than being perceived as a biological construct or stable entity, the body is viewed today as a flexible co-product of individual and social processes. Of all our physical features, hair perhaps illustrates this approach best, as it is an intrinsic, yet expendable, aspect of the self, an organic entity that we may alter. Furthermore, hair can symbolize different things, such as group membership, success, conformity, rebellion, etc. Consequently, many people participate in ritualistic behavior and goal-directed consumption of hair-products and services in order to purposely control or change their natural hair in a desire to manipulate the private or public meanings it communicates. Nevertheless, efforts to explore body issues have tended to overlook the significance of head hair and its manipulation. The aim of this edited collection is to concentrate on the intriguing intersection between women’s socio-cultural context and their head hair, and to provide a collection of current case studies and scholarly essays from the world over which investigate the private and public meanings associated with women's head hair and hairstyles, as well as the role of hair as a symbol, a performance, and a tool of communication. The various essays will explore women's head hair issues from a variety of disciplinary approaches and will offer a feminist perspective on diverse aspects of the significance of women’s head hair, relating to religion, age, class, ethnicity, economics, and more. Interested authors should send an abstract of 350-500 words, 3-5 references, and a current brief bio to Sigal Barak-Brandes ([log in to unmask]) by Dec. 31, 2016 with “Women's Head Hair Issues” in the subject line. Acceptance notices will be sent by Jan. 31, 2017, and full papers of 6000 to 8000 words (including all references) will be due June 30, 2017. I intend to submit a proposal to Routledge when ready.