BOOKS
Philip E.V. Van Kerrebroeck.
2 the loo.Toileting, a historical, cultural and medical anthology.
Lier, Ismar Healthcare, 2007.
€ 15.00
Gebonden, 108pp., 22,5x22,5cm., richly illustr. in col. and b/w., in good condition (binding with light traces of use, paper edges slightly yellowed but inside outherwise in very good condition). ISBN: 97890811587.
This work is a multidisciplinary examination of human toileting practices across time and cultures. The anthology interweaves historical, anthropological, and medical perspectives to explore how societies have constructed rituals, etiquettes, and symbolic meanings around toileting. It surveys bodily coverings like cache-sexes, anatomical attitudes toward genitals and the 'backside,' and the intersection of hygiene, modesty, fashion and art. Rich in unique documentation-some previously unpublished-it offers vivid illustrations and photographic examples. The text critically situates toileting within sociocultural frameworks, demonstrating how gender, ritual, shame and evolving medical knowledge have shaped this universal yet complex human act.