Body Modification – Just the latest trend?
The other night I was out walking with a friend and the topic of conversation veered toward body modification amongst today’s youth. My friend was extremely concerned about her daughter who was attending university in the States, and at the same time acquiring numerous body piercings and tattoos. There was also some evidence that she was dabbling with scarification. As a parent, my friend viewed this attraction to body modification as a sign of distress and in need of some type of intervention. I, on the other hand, wondered if it wasn’t an act of rebellion and a form of differentiation from the mainstream?
According to Wikipedia, body modification is defined as “the permanent or semi-permanent, deliberate altering of the human body for non-medical reasons”. There are many reasons for choosing to alter one’s body, and the range of modifications is vast. Since the 1990’s, body art has become fashionable and somewhat mainstream. At one time tattoos were associated with a group viewed as somewhat suspect, namely bikers, ex-cons and sailors. Now, it is difficult to find a young adult who doesn’t have at least one tattoo and/or body piercing of some kind. A 2003 poll in the United States estimated that 36 percent of 25–29 year olds have one or more tattoo. I’m sure this number has increased in the last three years. This trend has now spilled over into an older generation where middle-class women are the fastest growing clientele of tattoo parlors. A friend of mine recently asked her mother how she would like to celebrate her upcoming 80th birthday, and to her surprise her mother requested a visit to a tattoo parlor!
Since tattooing has now become acceptable to older generations, youth are forced to find new ways of defining themselves and differentiating from their parents. Hence, we now see more extreme forms of body modification such as stretch piercing, tongue splitting, genital piercing, various implants and scarification.
Scarification first emerged in the mid-80’s and was embraced by gay and lesbian subcultures. It is done either by cutting repeatedly with a razor or scalpel, using a cauterizing tool, or by branding similar to the process used on livestock.
By the 1990’s, the Modern Primitivism subculture emerged which included extensive tattoos and body piercing. The group also promoted body markings through scarification and other tribal traditions to reconnect with the world and emphasize their own identity. The original members traveled extensively to learn about indigenous body rituals that could be re-enacted in the Western World to “get in touch with a more authentic or spiritual experience of the body,” (Pitts, 2003). This type of body modification has gained popularity over the last ten years and is now widespread across North America, Europe and Australia. For many, this type of body modification seems to signify a rejection of mainstream society and is an attempt to become more spiritually connected to a larger world.
For some, extreme forms of body modifications can be
viewed as symptomatic of a mental disorder or some form of mental illness,
although I could find no listing in the current edition of the DSM-IV.
The motivation to alter one’s body to the extreme is often misunderstood by
the general public, resulting in ostracism. This may replicate what the
individual is feeling internally, while at the same time providing a strong
sense of belonging to other members of this fringe group.
A review of the BME-Zine website illustrates the strong sense of alienation
by some group members as they battle against stereotypes. Some of the
stories are very poignant and full of painful experiences, while others
claim liberation through body modification by the mere fact that they are
exercising control over their bodies (maybe for the first time) and choosing
to express themselves through this form of art. The main concerning factor
lies in the permanency of this art form. It is extremely expensive and
painful to have a tattoo removed (just ask Angelina Jolie), and scars last
forever. There are also documented health risks due to the unregulated
nature of this industry. There are many stories of scars and some piercings
becoming infected and spreading into the bloodstream.
So, in the end, I am no further to answering the questions that were raised during the walk with my friend. I am reminded of my days as a Youth & Family Counsellor when I had some clients who were “self-mutilating”. This was viewed as a deviant behaviour that was a response to some trauma or extreme distress. It is hard not to view some body modifications in the same light. However, there is a fundamental difference in that self-mutilating individuals tend to be private about their “cutting” and work towards keeping this behaviour secret. Body modifiers, on the other hand, are very open about their “art” and it is hard not to see the many ways in which they have altered themselves. There seems to be a pride attached to their open defiance to what mainstream society defines as beautiful. They are clearly creating their own definition of beauty which binds them together. This is an elite club in which membership seems to elevate one’s self-worth and provides a sense of belonging.
I hope that we will see further research on this topic in order to help guide Child and Youth Care workers and other practitioners working with youth who identify strongly with this movement and subculture.
We need more than anecdotal stories to help us better understand the reasons why some youth are attracted to these extreme forms of self expression, and whether this is indeed behaviour that warrants more attention and intervention.
MICHELLE KOROLL
Kroll, M. (2006) Body Modification – Just the latest trend?
Relational Child
and Youth Care Practice Volume 19 Number 3, pp. 18-19
References
Atkinson, M.. (2003). Figuring out body modification cultures:
Interdependence and radical body modification processes.
Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and
Medicine. 8(3) p.373-379.
http://www.bmezine.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia Body Modification &
Scarification
http://nationalgeographic.com
Scarification: Ancient Body Art Leaving New Marks
Pitts, V. (2003). Debating body projects: Reading tattooed.
Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and
Medicine,8(3)p. 380-386.
