Body Modification Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

There is a turning tendency among today s young person that is immensely misunderstood and mischaracterized. This tendency is body piercing. Many people do non understand piercing and have a colored negative position ; they tend to believe that piercing is for delinquents and is an insecure pattern. The presence of prejudice can be reduced by educating the populace on the grounds for which people get pierced, the assortment of people who get pierced, and the safe piercing patterns used today.

REVIEW OF SOURCES

DeFao ( 1994 ) and Thomas ( 2001 ) are protagonists of organic structure piercing and believe that there are many of import significances to those who participate in it. These significances range from making a self-imposed rite of transition to merely increasing 1s ain self-image. Tanne ( 2000 ) and Jeanin ( 1999 ) take a historical expression at organic structure piercing and discourse the yesteryear and present effects of organic structure alteration. Benecke ( 2001 ) looks at the psychological facets of those who get pierced, while Mascia-Lees ( 1992 ) looks at the different cultural positions.

In an effort to warn the populace of the dangers involved in piercing, Drevitch ( 2001 ) discusses the negative effects of bad technique and insanitary instruments. Although Drevitch backs up his points with facts, he besides omits a good trade of information about the safe, flawlessly techniques of about every organic structure creative person. An anon. writer, in the publication NEA Today ( 2001 ) , writes to inform grownups of ways to educate kids about organic structure art in an effort to forestall jobs.

All of these beginnings, whether for or against body art, portion the aim of supplying the public with information on this hot tendency. Many of the writers assume that their audience is incognizant of organic structure piercing and its effects, and for the most portion this premise is right. Benecke, unlike the others, assumes nil about the reader and gives really straight-forward, scientific accounts. Mascia-Lees, while presuming that the reader is impersonal to the topic, emphasizes the different cultural positions. He focuses on the conservative and frequently colored positions of Western civilizations.

Background

Body alteration, including piercing, has far making roots in history, at least 30,000 old ages ( Mascia-Lees 1 ) . Throughout history, different civilizations have found a assortment of grounds to modify their organic structures. No affair what the ground, they all seem to make it. In fact, harmonizing to Ellen Futter, an expert, There has ne’er been a society in which people did non make this, whether for good or temporarily ( Tanne 1 ) .

There have been many different beliefs behind organic structure art in the history of adult male. One such belief is apparent in a 4,000 twelvemonth old adult male found frozen in the Alps. Tattoo Markss were noted near his spinal column and on his legs. These markers had been placed really

closely to where x-rays subsequently revealed bone devolution ( Tanne, 3 ) . These markers were obviously believed to ease his hurting, and were no uncertainty really helpful in the head of this adult male.

Much of piercing and alteration has been done harmonizing to the tendency of the clip. Many of the tendencies seen today may be derived from those in the yesteryear. Nose rings were the tallness of manner in scriptural times, harmonizing to the book of Genesis.

Roman centurions wore nipple rings as a mark of virility and bravery, while the Egyptians considered naval piercing a mark of royalty ( Doyle 5 ) . Behind every tendency seems to be some significance, and merely in a Western society would a adult male covered in tattoos be included in a monster show ( Jeanin 2 ) . The job seems to be that people entangle biological science with civilization, and automatically link organic structure art tendencies in America as a mark of deviancy, and bury what it means to those who started the tendency. After all, one time it has become a tendency, it no longer has a positive, nor negative significance ; it is merely the current tendency.

Discussion

Reasons behind piercing. Today in America, people who get pierced are frequently viewed as perverts or goons, but when one takes a closer expression at the grounds for which they do it, greater apprehension can be achieved. As Sander Thomas, a protagonist of organic structure piercing, says, individuals with organic structure piercings are by and large non aberrant or psychologically sick. Alternatively, they merely have a position of beauty which differs from that of the mainstream ( 4 ) . Sadly, being different from the mainstream usually leads to being negatively stereotyped. It is unfortunate that these people who pierce themselves for

assorted grounds that are frequently of import to them hold to endure through the prejudice of those who do non even seek to understand.

A really normally given ground is that piercing is merely for expressions. In the eyes of those who are making it, it makes them more attractive to themselves and others. This sweetening is truly positive because it is leting immature people to be at easiness with their organic structures, which is emotionally healthy ( Thomas 4 ) . In their eyes it may be

attractive, and in the eyes of others they are mangling themselves. Ironically plenty, many of those who call it self-mutilation are the same people who think nil of holding a plastic sawbones suck the fat out of their organic structure, or acquiring breast implants ( Doyle 2 ) .

The desire to arise frequently leads immature people into piercing studios. A big part of these immature people are considered to be good childs, and piercing is the best manner they can happen to arise ( DeFao 3 ) . Every coevals has found their ain manner of rebelling, and organic structure piercing is merely a manner for today s coevals to arise without aching themselves or others.

For many, piercing can be a really of import religious event. Our peculiar civilization is highly missing in what are called rites of transition. Peoples on subconscious degrees are happening ways of making their ain ( DeFao 2 ) . Harmonizing to Thomas, an writer and strong protagonist of piercing, Voluntary hurting as a religious rite is extremely psychotherapeutic and frequently symbolizes the decease of an unpleasant memory or portion of one s life it is a agency of religious, mental, and emotional cleaning ( 3 ) . This attitude can be seen in pre-industrial autochthonal societies, and may be what many of today s immature people are looking for in organic structure piercing.

The grounds are every bit legion as the people run alonging up to acquire pierced. It is done to be human. For beauty, as a mark of alteration, rebellion, or conformance, to demo position, to tag a minute to place with liquors, ascendants or divinities ( Tanne 1 ) . No affair what the ground, The hurting factor should non dominate the experience as a whole. A

individual should look at what it means to them, why they are making it the expectancy beforehand, the endorphin high afterwards ( Doyle 4 ) . In world, what truly affairs is what it means to the person.

Peoples who get pierced. Many believe that those with piercings are nil more than delinquents with no ends or hereafter, nevertheless in world, this belief is wrong. For whatever grounds they are

determination, many respectable, stable, people are acquiring pierced. In fact, it can be surprising to larn of the big assortment of them.

Peoples from all countries of society are acquiring pierced. Evidence of this can be seen in a study conducted by the publication Piercing Fans International Quarterly. In this study, 362 people who were acquiring nipple piercings were questioned. Their businesss varied from dark watchers to doctors ; their ages ranged from 22-76, and their one-year income ranged from $ 5,000 to $ 250,000. Of these people, more than 60 % had attained a college instruction ( Doyle 3 ) . This study shows that non merely adolescents are acquiring pierced, this tendency is making through grownups.

Peoples who lead otherwise normal lives are acquiring pierced. Mark Benecke interviewed and researched a 28 twelvemonth old female piercing practician for the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. She was raised in a in-between category household, attended Sunday school, and finished college with a Bachelor of Arts grade in Sociology. She so moved to New York City, where she, at the clip of the interviewing, worked as a full-time office director. This immature adult female, who leads an ordinary life and has a well successful calling, subjects her organic structure to utmost alterations including legion organic structure piercings, and even went every bit far as holding an

operation to divide her lingua ( 1-3 ) . She is merely one illustration of the big sum of people who have found ground to pierce themselves.

In add-on to the grownups, there are many mean, even above-average, adolescents who pattern organic structure art. Harmonizing to an writer for NEA Today, Body art attracts striplings from all socioeconomic backgrounds and degrees of academic accomplishment. In a survey conducted by the writer, 65 % of the pupils who sported organic structure art were pupils with A and B norms ( 2 ) . Not merely are many of the young person practising organic structure piercing, or other organic structure art, non oblique, they are good pupils.

Piercing safety. A major concern of parents and those who oppose piercing is safety. It would be incorrect to feign that there are no dangers involved with organic structure piercing, but these dangers come merely with malpractice. When piercing is right carried out, and good after attention is taken, the hazards are minimum.

Virtually every organic structure art studio is highly clean and unfertile. The piercers are painstaking about sterilising their tools and jewellery. They tend to be punctilious when it comes to safety because they want to construct a repute and acquire return visits ( Doyle 7 ) .

Their work countries are clean, and their tools are kept even cleaner. Piercing acerate leafs are disposable and used one time merely. Other reused stuffs are put through an sterilizer, a machine that uses high force per unit area steam for sterilisation of surgical tools, before every usage.

The sterilizers themselves are evaluated quarterly for efficiency ( Thomas 2 ) .

It is of import to discourse possible infection involved with piercing processs. The HIV virus is non a major concern due to the fact that it dies rapidly at room temperatures. Hepatitis B, which can last on a blood contaminated needle for several

months, is the largest hazard. This is why sterilised tools and environment are critical ( NEA Today 3 ) .

It is of import to larn the facts before transporting out any process. Drevitch explains, If you get a tattoo or piercing that you do non truly desire, or if you get it done the incorrect manner, the cost in hurting, medical disbursals, and merely general embarrassment can be high. So the least you can make is acquire the facts before you make a determination ( 1 ) . There are many organisations that are concerned with safe piercing, and one can happen information about studios from resources such safepiercing.com. Besides, a individual can inquire to see the creative person use an sterilizer, or take new disposable acerate leafs and baseball mitts from sealed, sterilized bundles. Doyle stresses the importance of inquiring a piercer about their preparation, By whom? Where? When? wear T be afraid to inquire these inquiries ( 7 ) .

Response

Today, the lone major job in piercing is the deficiency of ordinance. Presently, half the provinces do non hold ordinances regulating tattooing, and merely 15 have regulated piercing. This deficiency of ordinance leads to unsafe patterns in young person. Piercings are frequently done by striplings in flea markets, concerts, house foreparts, new waves, or even done at place by themselves ( NEA Today 2 ) .

Regulations would cut down this job drastically. If no professional aid is offered, many will execute the operation themselves. The first lingua splice was preformed by a immature female utilizing fishing line. This procedure can do terrible harm and infection, while a professional utilizing a optical maser could cut down the opportunities ( Mascia-Lees 4 ) .

As the tendency of organic structure piercing grows, American provinces will see more and more ordinances regulating the procedure. As already seen in several provinces, piercing studios will hold reviews for safety, and the piercers themselves will be required to be trained in the art. As this procedure of making safer piercing environments continues, and America easy becomes more broad, much more piercing is likely to be seen.

Decision

Piercing is an progressively outstanding pattern in America. Although non everyone would see taking portion in it themselves, it is of import for them to understand the grounds and significances for which people do it, to understand that those who do choose are non all perverts, and to cognize that it is a safe pattern. This cognition is necessary to advance understanding between people and make a more pleasant ambiance for everyone, including those who find ground to pierce, and those who do non. The Oklahoman society learns to accept piercing the better, because this tendency has lasted throughout human history, and there is no terminal in sight.

Benecke, Mark. Body Modification, Autophagy, Tongue Splicing, Scarification, etc. American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 8 March, 2001.

DeFao, Janine. Hole in One: For many, the Hot Trend of Body Piercing Carries With it the Ring of Truth. Sacramento Bee 30 Sept. 1994: SC1.

Doyle, Alicia. What s the Point of Body Piercing? It Depends on Whom You Ask.

The San Diego Union Tribune 2 May, 1995: E-1.

Drevitch, Gary. Body Art or Body Mutilation? Scholastic Choices Feb. 2001: 6.

Jeanin, Judy. An Ancient Art Form Gets Respect, Looking at the History of Body Modification. Record 26 Nov. 1999: 34.

Mascia-Lees, French republics. Introduction: Soft-Tissue Modification and the Horror Within. Tattoo, Torture, Mutilation, And Adornment. New York: University of New

York, 1992. 1-9.

Thomas, Sander. Body Piercing: Reclamation, Enhancement, and Self-Expression. BmeZine. 11 March, 2001.

Tanne, Janice. Body Art: Marks of Identity. British Medical Journal 1 Jan. 2000: 64.

The Piercing Reality of Body Art. NEA Today Jan. 2001: 34.