Strange aberration
 We tend to think of the habit of piercing various parts of the body and inserting ornaments
as something to be associated with the quasi-religious customs of primitive tribes in remote
regions of the world. Yet we have plenty of it in our own so-called civilised societies, even
if we make an exception for that minor piercing of the ear-lobes which is considered necessary
for the safe attachment of jewels intended to enhance the countenance.
In a review published in The Lancet for 5 April, by Aglaja Stirn of Frankfurt am Main,
some of the medical consequences and the psychological motivations of body piercing are examined,
in the wake of increasing popularity of body piercing throughout the world. It is practised by
individuals of many different social and age groups, despite the discomfort involved and the
risk of inflammation and infection.
As Dr Stirn points out, piercing of ears, mouth and nose has been common practice in almost
every society as far back in history as can be traced. It is especially common in Africa, Asia
and South America. Apart from considerations of beauty and community spirit, motivations include
ritual initiation, rites of passage and sexual enhancement. Religious traditions play a great
part in determining its incidence, which may indicate devotion to a certain deity or a wish to
transcend the normal limitations of bodily existence.
Body piercing may be regulated and confined to accredited practitioners, or unregulated and
carried out in department stores, jewellers' shops, homes or physicians' offices, generally without
recourse to antibiotics and under variable criteria of sterilisation of implements. As regards
site of puncture, ear lobes and ear cartilage are commonest, but eyebrows, nose, cheeks, lips,
mouth mucosa, tongue, uvula, nipple, navel and genital areas are also used. Complications occur — commonly
bleeding. The inserted material should be surgical steel, niobium, titanium or gold (14 or 18
carat); brass and nickel should be avoided they are likely to induce skin reactions.
Many factors influence the incidence of acute complications. Local infection may occur in 10
to 30 per cent of cases, navel, ear and nose being the commonest sites. Redness, swelling, warmth,
pain and drainage of pus are typical.
As regards motivation for the process, several psychological and sociological factors may be
involved, particularly in teenagers. It may be a desire to make a personal statement, to show
daring or to be fashionable. Peer pressure is often given as a motive, the wish to fit oneself
into a group that one admires. It strikes me, however, that to bow to peer pressure indicates
a degree of self-surrender and a lack of personal power and integrity. It shows not a measure
of strength, but of weakness and inability to stand on one's own two feet and assert one's personality.
So why do people, teenagers in particular, feel it necessary to fall into line rather than assert
superiority?
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