The Managed Hand: Race, Gender, and the Body in Beauty Service Work

The Managed Hand is a groundbreaking study that delves into the intimate encounters between nail salon workers and their clients, revealing the complex dynamics of race, class, and immigration that shape these interactions.

Through rich and compelling interviews, Miliann Kang uncovers the multiple motivations for manicures among white middle-class women, working-class African Americans, and Korean women in particular.

While tentative solidarities may emerge across the manicure table, they are often overshadowed by deeper divisions of race, class, and immigration.

This thought-provoking book offers a nuanced understanding of the ways in which beauty service establishments shape the lives of both workers and clients, and is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of gender, race, and class.