Body Modification

There are many cultural differences of body modification in the Eastern world because the Eastern world’s views and ways of self expression are different to those in the Western world.

A person’s views on certain issues are often influenced by their upbringing or their religious influences or lack of. If someone was raised more conservatively and strictly, their views on body modification would definitely be different than the views of someone who was raised in a more open-minded family unit.

Self expression is something that is very open and personal. Since self expression is something that involves a lot of feelings and emotions, a person can become very attached or dependant on how they express themselves. The way people chose to express themselves can vary. Some people express themselves through painting, some through writing music, and some through dancing. Another way people chose to express themselves is through something called body modification.

Body modification by definition “is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy or phenotype. It is often done for aesthetics, sexual enhancement, rites of passage, religious beliefs, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, for shock value, and as self-expression, among other reasons.” (Web Definitions, 2014)

There are many different ways that one could modify their bodies. An example of a more simple and common body modification would be the piercing of one’s ears. Ear piercing is so common nowadays that some even think of it as tradition to get their daughter’s ears pierced at a young age. It has become a common staple of femininity and beauty around the world. An example of a more drastic and uncommon body modif...

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...f the world are deeply rooted in tradition and spiritual views. They see these body modifications as a rite of passage in many cases and not so much for aesthetic purposes, even though many of these body modifications are seen as beautiful to many people and many cultures. Western society have adapted some body modifications from the Eastern world, but have used them for aesthetic purposes most of the time. We are a society and a culture revolved around the way things look and how we view ourselves. When a person modifies their body in Western society, it is often for the pure purpose of the way one looks or how something looks on one’s self.

In conclusion, that is why there are many cultural differences of body modification in the Eastern and Western world because the Eastern world’s views and ways of self expression are different to those in the Western world.