Omo Valley Scarification Research Paper

Deviant acts cannot be discussed without taking into account culture, perspective, and religion. Every culture is known for their types of expressions though tattooing, piercings, and body modification. Asian gangs such as the Yakuza are known for their full body tattoos, while African tribes can be associated with wearing rings that stretch their necks. Often, these types of tattooing and body modifications are seen as a sign of beauty or a sign of respect. In the United States, tattooing, piercings, and body modifications are becoming more acceptable, in moderation.

Traditionally, tattoos were meant for sailors, soldiers, bikers and gangs. Along with several changes in the industrialized and technological society of the twenty-first century, the standard for getting body modifications have altered as well. Everyday, people are willing to get permanently marked as an individual choice rather than the customarily perception of belonging to a certain group. Tattoo and piercing shops are not seen as “the backstreet” of the commercial civilization today, it is somewhat an expected sight in all public places. Josie Appleton in “The Body

In Chapter Thirteen, “Grassroots vs. Treetops” of Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn the act of genital mutilation is discussed. It starts off by giving gory details on genital mutilation, stating that every ten a girl is mutilated. Despite the medical problems surrounding female genital mutilation, it thrived in parts of Africa as a serious problem for young girls. FGM is sometimes described as a female circumcision, it’s cultural significance is to reduce sexual trends and to make the girls more marriageable. However, often these procedures are done with no new medical supplies and are performed with dirty materials leading to infection and sometimes death for girls partaking. A woman in Illinois is doing her best to stop female genital mutilation by working closely with each village and getting to the main source of the problem. Most people were under educated about what was wrong with female genital mutilation, it was a cultural rite of passage. But through working with each individual village, this woman could help ban female genital mutilation is thousands of villages and increased school attendance at the same time.

It is this sort of strictly prescribed, highly ritualistic decoration that Beckwith and Fisher depict in African ceremonies. “ We have tried to show how body art is relevant to every stage of development, from birth to death”, says Fisher. But while the traditional, often spiritually based versions of bod mod are quickly disappearing among indigenous peoples, the impulses behind personal adornment remain unchanged: attracting a mate, signaling status, declaring allegiance to a group( Lemonick 75). For men, the tattoo is a public identity symbol, and their first is usually on their arm. Women reserve their tattoo for a more intimate audience, and they usually choose their breast. For most, the tattoo is symbolic of their individuality and having withstood a painful and exciting event. Tattooees enjoy being noticed, although they reveal their tattoos selectively ( Davis 471). Anthropologists describe body art or modification as a way of identifying oneself as being a part of a group, a tribe, or a gang: of denoting one’s financial status or marital status: or even as a way of beautifying the body (Grief, Hewitt 368).

In the Body Rituals Among the Nacirema, both men and women believe that “they lack frequency.” In order for them to believe that they are to their standards and others standards perceived as beautiful, they undergo sadism and masochistic rituals performed by highly trained specialist to enhance one’s look. The people of the tribe change their bodies via enhancement to look like a representation of a doll “outside the range of human variation,” says Miner.

Body modifications have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years. But certain stigmas still persists to this contemporary day. One such body modification is the act of inking or marking the skin: Tattooing. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to diverse groups of people. But are the popular perceptions of tattoos out of synch with the true meaning behind them? This essay will explore the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body. It will also explore why tattoos engender

Female genital mutilation may be currently reaching a changing point in its history. It is a cultural practice that is considered to have long standing importance but female genital mutilation presents to most developed nations a need for education and a need to clarify ethical dilemmas regarding it. In most cases, the push for female genital mutilation to be eradicated comes from within individual cultures and communities but internationally there is also support for eradication of this problem. The main dilemma is that most groups that actively practice female genital mutilation see it as a necessary or even obligatory ritual that defines them as a culture and gives their culture or religion autonomy. It is (at the time that this paper was written) illegal to perform female genital mutilation on a child in the United Sates but not on an adult woman, which includes anyone who is who is older than 18 years old. However, ultimately, female genital mutilation is unethical regardless of who it is performed upon, so the United States’ health care providers and the laws governing them need to step beyond their traditionally followed roles on this issue. In fact, health care providers ought to join the ongoing worldwide efforts to completely eradicate female genital mutilation. Health care providers

Because cosmetic surgeons can be thought of as “artists whose own life histories will undoubtedly shape their conceptualization of beauty” (Gupta S7), they must be as a adaptable and malleable as the faces of their patients. If a surgeon is to consumed by their own idea of what is beautiful, and if this idea is driven by the idealization of a specific race’s features, then the results of the surgery could potentially be disastrous. Both the surgeon and

This research is limited only to the ethical issues of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM). Ethical issues about other kinds/types of mutilation like the tattoos or markings, surgeries, transplants and piercings are not furthermore discussed, explained, and identified in this research.

Now that we know little about the mutilation process these females undergoes; let’s ask ourselves “Why would someone ever agree to conduct such procedure on their own will?” If mutilation emphasizes the clear violation of human rights, why is this procedure being implemented in many different countries? Well, this issue is due to different ethical, and moral perspective; one may believe that female mutilation is morally right; while others may think it’s a violation of human rights. Let’s first explore the ethical theories on this

Scarification is a way of life for nigerians, scarification isn't for pleasure or for fun like our way of society but for them, it's a rite of passage. Scarification can also mean ranking among their village, and for religious believes. Scarification has been all around the work, which makes people want to know more about, so Vince Hemingson, a writer and filmmaker got interested in the studies of body modification states “Scarification almost always happens in a culture” during an interview with national geographic. He explains how scarification isn't only for fun, but a way of life for tribes in africa. Scarification also shows a

The symbolic interactionist perspective would focus more on the meanings and symbols of mutilation. Women and adolescents would associate the meaning of mutilation by comparing themselves as pure and attractive. As they interact with others, they will conclude that it is a positive outcome of the procedure. The symbols and meaning associated with the mutilation could signify womanhood, pureness, virility, and allurement. Women and girls would symbolize themselves as these symbols when the procedure is carried out. The conflict theorist perspective would dispute on the socioeconomic reliance of women on men as it influences their character toward the mutilation. If the woman is mutilated, they have a higher possibility to marry a wealthy man.

The Suri are viewed as one of the “last remaining primitive or vanishing tribes” (Abbink 177), which makes their villages an ideal spot for consumerist tourism. They live in the remote lowlands of Ethiopia, which is considered an insecure environment, and practice agro-pastoralism, hunting, and gathering. The Suri are very proud of their independent way of life and desire little to no help from the Ethiopian government. These people are known for their lip and ear disks in women, dueling among men, body modifications, and their unusual diet which consists of drinking blood from live cattle. Body modifications among the Suri ensue rather large lip and ear disks in women, and body scarification (Abbink 896). Body scarification is similar to tattoos; the skin is removed in a distinct pattern that will heal. The healed scar tissue will then resemble the desired pattern.

Body modifications, with the focus of tattoos, have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years, yet certain dishonors still remain our modern day. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to endless diverse groups of people. But are the popular assumptions of tattoos out of sync with the true meaning behind them? Further explanation and exploration of the history will reveal the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body, in addition to providing answers as to why tattoos stimulate uneasiness

Genital cutting is the act of cutting or removing any part of the genitals or sexual organs for non-medical reasons, and is practiced in many parts of the world. Each culture genital cutting is attached to assigns it its own traditions, rituals, and meanings; and it is important to examine each instance in its own cultural context and historical period. When any practice is removed from the latter or the former, it loses valuable information surrounding it that changes the light and meaning of it. The most common representation of genital cutting represented is that done to women, particularly in impoverished areas, or areas portrayed as so, in countries Western settings view to be inferior or “third world,” particularly countries on the African continent. However, there are several types of genital cutting practiced on men, women, and intersexed persons in across multiple continents and classes.