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Body Modifications Affect Society's Views On Adolescents

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Body Modifications Affect Society's Views On Adolescents
Society and Culture
Society and Culture
Assignment
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How do body modifications affect society’s views on adolescents?
How do body modifications affect society’s views on adolescents?
By Deejay Jones, 11SaC
By Deejay Jones, 11SaC

Body modifications have been around for millennia, from the tribal tattoos of the New Zealand Maoris to the intense scarification of the Papua New Guinean Sepiks, to the stretched neck of the Padaung tribe of Burma.

In the 1920s, tattoos were recognised as symbols of delinquency or naval status, and progressed to popularity in the 1960s after waves of popularity for centuries. In the last 20 years, tattoos have become so prevalent that 15% of parents would let their child (under 18) to get a tattoo
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Many celebrities from sports stars through to performers and pop stars also have body modifications, and in 2011, a Barbie doll was released, sporting several tattoos. It has been said that Generation X is the “Body mod” generation, and so the researcher was curious as to what society’s reactions were to these permanent markings.
Figure 1.5: Tattooed Mattel Barbie, released in 2011
Figure 1.5: Tattooed Mattel Barbie, released in 2011

The topic selected for the Society and Culture assignment was, the views that society holds against adolescents with body modifications, and was assessed by a questionnaire of 51 yes/no questions and open questions, aimed to an audience from 14 to 60.

The subject was selected because of the researchers own curiosity and because of the ever-changing opinions and representations of body modifications in the media, and within society. *
During the 1930s the most prominent character that had a tattoo was the sailor, Popeye, who sported an anchor on his arm. In more recent times, many celebrities have tattoos including the pop sensations Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus and the media controversy that erupted about these two has been the basis behind the selection of this
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The most common response found in the questionnaire was that people found cosmetic surgery to be “stupid”, “against God” or “a violation of nature”, these responses mixed with the media responses to it, such as segments on Australia’s Today Tonight, 60 minutes and the US Good Morning America, make it obvious that cosmetic surgery is not an accepted procedure in today’s world, and that people, adolescents especially, are viewed negatively if they partake in a cosmetic

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