The Padaung Karen tribe PDF

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The definition of Beauty Cultural Practice of the Neck Coil in Asia

The Padaung Karen tribe, a tribe also referred to as the “Long-necks” or the “Giraffe women”. The tribe, spread and located in places such as Thailand and Myanmar, are recognized globally by a specific part of their culture that catches attention when you see it. The women specifically practice a standard of beauty in which they coil brass rings that adorn their necks. They begin doing this from a young age with a single brass coil placed around their neck and are continued coiling as the female ages. These Padaung women have widely molded this standard of beauty into their everyday lives and has become so defining that the wearers do not take off the rings when doing things such as daily chores, work, or school. Although it might seem impossible to live a normal life wearing these rings, the Padaung women live relatively ordinary lives with their families, as the rings have become part of their daily dressing up as well. What is considered normal in their culture, this reasoning behind their definition of what’s beautiful and a sign of wealth as well may not always be so widely accepted among cultures. The brass rings are a normal part of the lives of the Padaung people but foreigners view the tradition as a social taboo and large numbers of tourists will even flock to the tribe to witness these people first-hand. These areas of Thailand and Myanmar attract so much attention that not only is tourism a major source of income for this tribe, but some Westerners have even described it as a “human zoo.” Humans have been changing and modifying their bodies to enhance their aesthetic appeal for many years and across cultures. The standards of beauty and the method for beautifying yourself, across time too have changed. Different cultural groups think, feel, and act differently. However there is no scientific standards for considering one group as superior or inferior to another therefore prior to calling judgment when observing groups 1

The definition of Beauty Cultural Practice of the Neck Coil in Asia or societies different from your own, you must learn information about the nature of cultural differences between societies, their practices, and the consequences from judgment and actions against what you don’t fully understand. This Tribe’s and their culture should be analyzed in terms of its function, meaning, and how it fits with other traits inside of its culture. Through Cultural Relativism, I hope to enlighten individuals so that they may gain a better understanding of this different culture. I will begin by approaching beauty through a Cultural Relativistic approach. I will then describe how just how important the subjectivity behind the term is and must be understood. Finally, I will challenge the idea of Cultural Relativism an argument of the value in the definition of beauty. The Cultural Relativist approach does admit some social beliefs can be morally mistaken, as there are limits to cultural relativism. Human rights, freedom, and justice are a few examples of those limits. People are taught to respect other cultures and traditions, but they also feel the need to be ready to criticize when the cultural practices or traditions infringe upon basic human rights or justice. Efforts to keep this culture alive, is one of the main reasons why this tradition has not died out among the Padaung tribe. However for these women whom perceive that the longer the brass neck the more attractive it is, must deal but with the medical complications that follow this standard ideal of beauty. My closing thoughts will conclude with my argument that the concept of beauty as it is defined by the cultural lenses of people it is purely subjective not a fact, so should not be treated as a fact that within it self is a logical fallacy. Culture and the existence of very population have a finite amount of creativity, varying in material resources, energy, and time—they can use their lives and thereby create their culture. Since every population needs differ from others, the people in the 2

The definition of Beauty Cultural Practice of the Neck Coil in Asia population tend to pour that finite amount of creativity into different protects. As a result, different cultures become good at doing different things. The true origin of this tradition is uncertain because the Karen do not keep a written history of their culture. However, there are many different stories for that range from using the coils to protect against tiger bites to the neck, to using the coils as a method of making the tribe women appear ugly so that they would not be traded into slavery. The idea that western culture has been quite good at solving certain problems, but it hasn’t even attempted others, and for this reason we should be learning from other cultures, not destroying them. Cultural Relativism makes a justification for the perceptions of what is beautiful and how different every person based on their experience with it. This view in other words, gives reason to believe “right” and “wrong” are culturespecific; what is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another and since no universal standard of morality exists, no one has the right to judge another’s beliefs, customs as they are relative to the individual within his/her own social context. Whether beauty is inward or outward, the difference in each culture shows how subjective the relativistic nature surrounding beauty can be. If ethical truth is determined by personal opinion or cultural ideals, then it’s impossible for one’s personal ethical opinions or a culture’s ideals to ever be mistaken. Therefore, if ethical relativism is true, either the moral views of all individuals, or all cultures are all equally good, especially when defining beauty. Beauty can be perceived in images and interpreted in actions as well. Even the way a person emanates from the glow a woman shows every time she accomplishes her objective. Sometimes people tend to look at physical beauty because we are drawn to beautiful images. Aesthetic relativism would be the view that would respond to this, it explains views by illustrating the judgment of beauty is relative to 3

The definition of Beauty Cultural Practice of the Neck Coil in Asia every individuals or culture and that there are no universal criteria of beauty. Philosophers who have given influential objectivist accounts to things such as Aesthetic relativism are those such as Immanuel Kant. He argues that the judgment of beauty, while subjective, is universal. What he means by this is that the judgment of beauty, despite being subjective, is a universally practiced function of the mind. This could be illustrated with the idea being in the eye of the beholder. What worth is beauty given that it is okay to trade pain for beauty? According to relativism, nothing is intrinsically valuable. Things are valuable only because we regard them as such. Beauty is defined by the value we give it in our distinct cultures. As essential as Cultural relativism calls for when approaching such cultures, calling for an open view before interpreting or criticizing other cultures. This ideology can be questionable if it is injuring a person as well as putting in danger their life. It is a common misconception amongst many people that the coil actually lengthens the neck, but in reality this stretching would cause paralysis or death. In the beginning, it is said to be painful putting on the rings and all the ring ladies grew up with atrophied limbs. However, like most women, beauty precedes everything and the pain was worth it. It is said that this “lengthening” of the neck by wearing these rings increases the chances of finding a husband, but does this ideology weigh just as heavy as the chance for survival? The elongated neck is a result of the pressure the rings put on their shoulders, which are being pushed down, that’s how the elongated neck appearance is achieved. What actually happens is that the brass rings begin to weigh down on the collarbone and upper ribs, and eventually the collarbone begins to look as though it is part of the neck. The neck rings, which are rarely removed, disfigure the collarbone and upper ribs, giving the illusion of a long neck. Because the necks of these women have been weakened by years of not 4

The definition of Beauty Cultural Practice of the Neck Coil in Asia supporting itself, the removal of the rings causes the woman to have to spend the rest of her life lying down or having to constantly support her neck to prevent it from breaking. As much as you would like to try to understand their purposes behind the subculture but it is hard. It brings a medical problem at hand. Don’t you think it is kind of cruel of themselves? Or just because they have their decision so it doesn’t matter how huge painful it will be but still be understandable? The coils exhibit the concept of beauty traded for pain as this visualized by their community and culture in order to be widely accepted but what is exception in your culture when it deteriorates your health. “Freedom” works very well in some ways. I will try to say yes I agree with the idea that we need to try out best to understand culture difference but not cruel ones. A persons health and body, however it looks, its main purpose is to either work or not work and going to great lengths to just make it looks nice isn’t worth the destruction of that. To conclude my thoughts, when one talks about beauty, keeping an open mind is everything. What one person finds true beauty is someone might find outrageous weird or even ugly. There is no such thing as ultimate beauty because you cannot compare beauty. We do not live all following the same standards or principles; we do not have the same ideals. What may be a social norm to one society may be seen as completely immoral to another, but cultural relativism allows individuals to observe the practices of other cultures through an unbiased lens. Beauty will always be a mysterious aspect of life; it is unexplainable but recognizable when seen.

Works Cited 5

The definition of Beauty Cultural Practice of the Neck Coil in Asia

ThaiMed. "Women Of The Long Neck Karen Tribe Removing Rings." Thailand Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and Medical Tourism Travel Blog RSS. N.p., 02 May 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. .

Innes, Emma. "Pictured: The 'giraffe Women' of Eastern Burma Who Wear Brass Rings around Their Necks as a Sign of Beauty ." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. .

Waddington, R. "The Peoples of the World Foundation." Indigenous Peoples of the World — The Karen. The Peoples of the World Foundation, 2002. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. .

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