Beauty and Body Piercings

I found this a very interesting thought! While I personally find a lot of the more extreme piercings very odd, I can definitely agree that many cultures around the world, both primitive and advanced, place value on some sort of attractive value on these.

In regard to the corset piercing: why would you get that? It just looks so painful! However, I guess because wearing corsets has been done to make people more attractive, this piercing may drawn on that feeling in the people who see someone with this.

Very interesting. I think people with piercings all over their body is a little strange, but it does make them unique. I know in some middle eastern cultures they wear neck braces to stretch out their neck, OWW! That would hurt!!

This is super interesting! I would love to see a study on what people generally think about piercings, and why the like them in places they do. For example do people think they look "tough" with a strange piercing, or do they simply want it for the jewelry? I know earrings have somewhat become a standard for women across the world, but sometimes I wonder why someone would want to get piercings done like the corset (OW) or in other places....
Also the belly button ring, nose piercing and lip piercing have all become more popular lately. I'm wondering if any of those will become more of a standard as well?

Do you think it could be that, early on, the ability to handle piercings could have been seen as a sign of strength or pain tolerance? I personally don't see it that way, but looking at it from a more evolutionary standpoint, perhaps this belief could have spurred the piercing "competition" you mention in your post. Nowadays, whatever potential attractiveness that piercings provide seems to have diminished in this sense... I think now piercings are just fashion statements or expressions, and definitely not everyone finds them attractive.

Funny that you mention differences in the value of piercings in different cultures. Most westernized cultures find lots of piercings (and might I mention tattoos) attractive. A lot of Asian countries find that one piercing on each ear lobe is appropriate and anymore piercings wouldn't look attractive at all.

And as for that corset picture: GROSS. Why would anyone ever do that???!!!???!!

The point is, I believe piercing standards are more based on nurture vs. nature because I'm from an Asian American background, but I think piercings and tattoos are fine.

As someone with piercings, I've always found them attractive, but never once did I consider this a world-wide phenomenon, let alone a sign of beauty internationally. But the more I consider the possibility that this attraction arose from nature and nurture theories, the more I find it believable. For example, when man was in its early ages of cavemen, anytime a male showed off some sort of protective or violent side in favor of his mates, the more attractive he may have seemed. Is it possible that piercings are deemed not necessarily beautiful, but attractive because they're dangerous and a sign of strength subconsciously?

I think piercings are a method of expressing your personality in western cultures but can be very different in other cultures of the world. For example, in cultures with "unique" traditions many people can have piercings and gauges that are very normal to them and would seem gross and disgusting to us. If we see people in our country with certain piercings we judge them and base a lot of what we get from our first impression off of what they have done to their body.

It is a really weird thing, but I find it totally legit. I had always wanted a tattoo for a long, deep emotional reason, but I had never found them attractive on other people. Now that I have 2 of them, I see tattoos on other people as very attractive features. It might be because I am drawn to the idea that their tattoo has an emotional meaning as well...regardless, expressing yourself in such an extreme manner is a way that more and more people are finding important to do.

I too have wondered what the societal draw to body piercings is. Having numerous ear piercings, but nothing any more dramatic, I've always admired body piercings. But it's interesting to ponder why it is that we find them attractive. I agree that it's purpose is to accentuate desirable parts of our body (i.e. belly button ring=> stomach). I think you brought up a very insightful topic and I'm anxious to look more into it.

I myself do find a certain attraction to women with certain body piercings. Also though I do find more extreme piercings to be just that extreme are more of a turn off. I wonder if there is some sort of threshold of pain that our brains recognized individuals endure for their piercings and that plays a role in how we view them as attractive or individuals in general. Although it seems to fall is the S&M category it is something to think about whether we want to or not?

I found your post very interesting. I completely agree with you about perhaps beauty is based upon modifying different body appearances in different cultures. This past summer I was in New Zealand. Many of the natives have tattoos on their faces. I thought this to be really interesting because normally if you are going to get a tattoo you wouldn't get it on your face because it could prevent you from a getting a job and when you are older you may regret it. However in their culture it is considered a sign of respect and honor for the tribe. I thought this was very cool.I think it is interesting how different cultures all have their own signature, whether it be piercings or tattoos. They represent the culture and show pride in who they are. Overall nice post and good insight!

It is interesting to look at indigenous societies that like you said, value certain extreme body modifications like neck stretching, foot breaking and HUGE gauges. We can shape our bodies so much and I think that certain societies have found this to be a good use of visual expression to show their superiority or beauty. I wonder how it ever began that people would administer painful modifications like this. Maybe it was as simple as one caveman saying I'm going to put this thing around my neck and then everyone else followed along.