Body Modification

There are many different reasons why people modify their bodies. For fashion, decoration, some people such as the Maoris inscribe their bodies with their life history, religious beliefs, rebellion, initiation, sexual purposes/feeling enhancement, and as a form of control in certain patriarchal societies where men control their wives and force them to be obedient. In widespread society, at least in the west, body modifications such as tattoos or piercings are considered “normal” fashion necessities.

There were many examples of body modification outlined in the lecture. The question posed to us at the end was what aspects do you find “wrong” and which do you find acceptable? I believe that any form of body modification that people can consent too under fair circumstance is acceptable. Chinese foot binding is not an acceptable form as the bandaging takes place when the girls are only children. It usually occurred between the ages of four and seven. This is “wrong” as children can not consent to life changing body alterations. And for me loving parents could not watch their child endure the pain of their foot flesh rotting away, oozing mucus and infection. Mine is obviously a western viewpoint as over one billion women had their feet bound before it became illegal in 1911. But I find it hard to understand why these women would do such a thing. Having the torturous process executed by their mothers, the children in turn, turn into their children’s torturers. All because Chinese men didn’t believe their women should have big feet? I think there is a more sinister reason behind breaking women’s feet. This patriarchal Chinese society inflicts these traditions upon their women to keep them obedient, submissive and dutiful. Rather like the Padaung tribe in Thailand. These women have a coil that forces the chin upwards and elongates the neck. The coils are added over a period of time so no pain is caused. These coils keep the women under check as their oppressive husbands can threaten them with the removal of their coils so they will consequently live a very weak life, perhaps even death as the neck muscles will be so weak without the support they cannot hold up their own heads. I believe everybody should have independence, and the threat of more severe, detrimental body modification over you, if you dare defy your society’s rules, to me is immoral. It astounds me that these women allow themselves to be dominated in this way, for a sense of a patriarchal view of fashion and beliefs.

For a personal account of the effects of foot binding and some more depth information go http://www.angelfire.com/ca/beekeeper/foot.html.