Download - Body Piercing: The Multicultural Phenomenon
Body Piercing
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Elaine Davidson-Brazil
“Most Pierced Woman”
Guinness World Record
2010- 6725 Piercings
By Definition:
Merriam-Webster Dictionary – Body Piercing
“the practice or an instance of adorning the body with jewelry or ornamentation that penetrates the flesh”
1989- Description “Body Piercing” was created, existed long before that
Ancient Existence
Mesopotamians used piercings to identify slaves and indentured servants
Egyptians used piercings to demonstrate social class- the more piercings the more important Pharaoh’s were the only ones allowed to have belly-button
piercings
The Bible mentions piercings in Genesis 24:22:
“And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold”
Otzi the Iceman
The oldest mummified person to date.
Found with “gauged out” ears, size 7-11 mm
Nose piercing popular in India in 16th century
Tongue piercing practiced by Aztec and Mayan civilizations
Ancient Roman centurions displayed strength in their pierced nipple
Australia and New Guinea indigenous would pierce septum to appear as fierce savages in war
Across Africa and South America, Lip Plates are used for women to increase Bridal Price
Body Piercing in Western Civilization
With the extinction of different cultures and Industrialization, body piercing was forgotten in Europe.
Became uncommon for piercings to exists, especially in the United States in the early 1900s
It wasn’t until the 1960’s when body piercing would resurface in Western Civilization
Growing Popularity
1960’s- Ear piercings and Body piercings became popular in homosexual communities across England/United States
1970’s- Spread throughout the punk rock community as a sign of difference
1980’s- “Operation Spanner” in the UK- viewed body piercing as consensual sadomasochism, tried to outlaw it but failed to an extent
1990’s- Body piercing takes off in United States, 1993 appeals on “Operation Spanner” prove successful, celebrities endorse body piercings
Janet Jackson- showing off
her body piercing
Superbowl 38, 2004
Different Types
Ears- Most Common to pierce and stretch (Lobe, Pinna, Scaffold)
Oral- Cheek, Lip, Madonna, Tongue
Surface- Unlimited, common types- Eyebrow, Nape
Genital
Nasal- Nostril, Septum
Abdominal- Nipple, Belly Button
How To Pierce
Piercing Needle- Most Common
Piercing Gun- Hurts and unsterile
Tapered Piercing
Dermal Punch- Surgically remove skin
Stretching
Can use Tapers, Weighted Jewelry, Tape
Why do it? Some for cultural purposes, but it’s a culture in and of
itself.
Fashion
Some still see it as a form of sadomasochism, although studies have proven that not to be the case- “…body piecing should be seen as desires to show a
subject's identity rather than as a marker of psychopathology”- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Why would ritual pass down from ancient times, spread across the world, uniting people around the world?
Community in individualism