im really interested in the info you have on body piercing (and
other mutilations- tatooing, stretching, carving etc..) and im not sure
if someone originally had some evidence or written material on mutilation
being patriarchal or what....i could be described as one of those "punky
girls" and its a really interesting phonomenon in my generation that i
think has really really deep roots in a subconscious (for the mass
mainstream numbers of young people) and conscious for many (including
myself) reclaiming/discovery of the primal/tribal expressions of indiginous
people.
i see the most mutilation happening among western euro-american
youth more than western afro/asian/latino/native youth..and i think it
relates to our culture (american) not having roots in this land, and
infact the roots we do have from europe having been severed and referred
to only in a modern european way (we arent taught about our indigenous
roots..because then we might ask "well why the hell are we living this way
then??") i dont think this problem is very conscious at all among my
generation, but i think its there and i think many of us are just trying
to reaffirm our connections to our roots and looking for something to
make us feel like we actually live in a society of people rather than
dead machines groping across a cold steel void. and i agree that a lot of
the wierdest looking young people are the most resistant and acivist in our
culture..i think mutilation has become a form of protest (like i said
both consciously and subconsciously) and its important for older people
to try to respect and understand where its coming from.
i also think it has special significance for women..i know it does for
me. i cant understand how it could ever be interpreted as
patriarchal....i think in many ways its a coming to terms with our
bodies..claiming it as ours to do what we will with...connecting
ourselves/reminding ourselves of the sacredness and self-healing
capabilities of our flesh...adorning ourselves in jewelry is an old
idea...piercing our labias, clitorises etc... has real deep roots
relating to getting in touch with a part of our bodies thats been denied
and shamed and tabooed..learning to feel that part of ourselves and
always remember how central to our lives it is...
just some thoughts that i guess arent that related to ecofeminism but i
thought might enlighten some of you who dont get my generation.
-anne ;)
