Body Modification Essay Research Paper INTRODUCTION There

Body Modification Essay, Research Paper

INTRODUCTION

There is a growing trend among today s youth that is vastly misunderstood and mischaracterized. This trend is body piercing. Many people do not understand piercing and have a biased negative view; they tend to believe that piercing is for delinquents and is an unsafe practice. The presence of bias can be reduced by educating the public on the reasons for which people get pierced, the variety of people who get pierced, and the safe piercing practices used today.

REVIEW OF SOURCES

DeFao (1994) and Thomas (2001) are supporters of body piercing and believe that there are many important meanings to those who participate in it. These meanings range from creating a self-imposed rite of passage to simply increasing ones own self-image. Tanne (2000) and Jeanin (1999) take a historical look at body piercing and discuss the past and present effects of body modification. Benecke (2001) looks at the psychological aspects of those who get pierced, while Mascia-Lees (1992) looks at the different cultural views.

In an attempt to warn the public of the dangers involved in piercing, Drevitch (2001) discusses the negative effects of bad technique and unsanitary instruments. Although Drevitch backs up his points with facts, he also omits a good deal of information about the safe, cleanly techniques of nearly every body artist. An anonymous author, in the publication NEA Today (2001), writes to inform adults of ways to educate children about body art in an attempt to prevent problems.

All of these sources, whether for or against body art, share the objective of providing the public with information on this hot trend. Many of the authors assume that their audience is unaware of body piercing and its effects, and for the most part this assumption is correct. Benecke, unlike the others, assumes nothing about the reader and gives very straight-forward, scientific explanations. Mascia-Lees, while assuming that the reader is neutral to the subject, emphasizes the different cultural views. He focuses on the conservative and often biased views of Western cultures.

BACKGROUND

Body modification, including piercing, has far reaching roots in history, at least 30,000 years (Mascia-Lees 1). Throughout history, different cultures have found a variety of reasons to modify their bodies. No matter what the reason, they all seem to do it. In fact, according to Ellen Futter, an expert, There has never been a society in which people did not do this, whether permanently or temporarily (Tanne 1).

There have been many different beliefs behind body art in the history of man. One such belief is evident in a 4,000 year old man found frozen in the Alps. Tattoo marks were noted near his spine and on his legs. These markings had been placed very

closely to where x-rays later revealed bone degeneration (Tanne, 3). These markings were evidently believed to ease his pain, and were no doubt very helpful in the mind of this man.

Much of piercing and modification has been done according to the trend of the time. Many of the trends seen today may be derived from those in the past. Nose rings were the height of fashion in biblical times, according to the book of Genesis.

Roman centurions wore nipple rings as a sign of virility and courage, while the Egyptians considered naval piercing a sign of royalty (Doyle 5). Behind every trend seems to be some meaning, and only in a Western society would a man covered in tattoos be included in a freak show (Jeanin 2). The problem seems to be that people entangle biology with culture, and automatically connect body art trends in America as a sign of deviancy, and forget what it means to those who started the trend. After all, once it has become a trend, it no longer has a positive, nor negative meaning; it is simply the current trend.

DISCUSSION

Reasons behind piercing. Today in America, people who get pierced are often viewed as deviants or hoodlums, but when one takes a closer look at the reasons for which they do it, greater understanding can be achieved. As Sander Thomas, a supporter of body piercing, says, persons with body piercings are generally not deviant or psychologically ill. Instead, they simply have a view of beauty which differs from that of the mainstream (4). Sadly, being different from the mainstream normally leads to being negatively stereotyped. It is unfortunate that these people who pierce themselves for

various reasons that are often important to them have to suffer through the bias of those who do not even try to understand.

A very commonly given reason is that piercing is simply for looks. In the eyes of those who are doing it, it makes them more attractive to themselves and others. This enhancement is really positive because it is allowing young people to be at ease with their bodies, which is emotionally healthy (Thomas 4). In their eyes it may be

attractive, and in the eyes of others they are mutilating themselves. Ironically enough, many of those who call it self-mutilation are the same people who think nothing of having a plastic surgeon suck the fat out of their body, or getting breast implants (Doyle 2).

The desire to rebel often leads young people into piercing studios. A large portion of these young people are considered to be good kids, and piercing i

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