body modification and mutilation

body modification and mutilation
Intentional modification of the human body for religious, aesthetic, or social reasons.

It is frequently performed for magical or pseudo-medical purposes, but cosmetic motives are equally common. The variability of the results in different cultures reflects varying ideals of beauty or morality. Modifications include head flattening, insertion of a lip plug, tattoos, scarification, and piercing of the ear and other parts of the body. Mutilations include male and female circumcision, foot binding, and amputation.

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Universalium. 2010.

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