The Mutalation and Modification of the Body

What is it that would cause someone to purposely stab themselves with needles and surgically getting things cut off and altered? Body mutilation, also know as body modification, is defined as deliberately altering the human body in either a permanent or semi permanent fashion for some reason other then medicinal. These reasons can range from dealing with other forms of pain to following certain spiritualities.

The terms body mutilation and body modification when used in describing a purpose altering of a person’s body typically mean the same thing. The difference between the two is that those who support the altering of the body use the term modification, as where those that oppose it will use mutilation. These two sides differ greatly on what is acceptable within culture, but modification is more widely acceptable then some would realize.

Some thing as simple as an ear piercing is considered body modification. Even Jewish demand of circumcision is a modification. The pushing of the social boundaries is typically what brings some to call it mutilation. We as a culture have been getting more and more used to the idea of modification. An example of this would be within the punk scene, it is very common for both males and females to have not only ear piercing, but large gages put in, as well as their eyebrows, nose, lips, and even cheeks pierced. I have met quite a few people that fit into this category. One specifically is a guy that I had met at a punk show a few months ago. He had about thirteen tattoos and somewhere around twenty piercings. When I asked him why he would do this to himself, I got kind of mixed answers. All of his tattoos were for different bands that he either played in or just was a large fan on. The piercings on the other hand, where partially for the punk look and the more recent was were as he stated, “just for fun.”

Looking back even less then forty years ago these things would have been considered grotesque and the one with them would be considered a derelict. There are still some in this time that believe that, but when you see a punk walk down the road today, they typically are not looked upon as second class anymore.

So why is it that people modify and mutilate themselves? For some, it is a way of standing out and going against the flow of common society. These are also the kinds of people that use it as a fashion statement, the “Punks” and “Goths” are typically the two classes that these people fit into. The other reasoning for such actions is to get the adrenaline and endorphin rush involved with the pain. These are the