I woke this morning to the smell of fresh coffee; a regular brew of freshly crushed beans from which I draw enough energy to manage through the first hours of the day. After hastily downing two cups full of the concoction, I made my way to the bathroom for my morning ritual. Taking the small brush from my collection of cosmetics, I applied a small amount of the sticky white substance that is supposed to keep my teeth from rotting (at least temporarily). That may have been the single most important thing that I did this morning to ensure my hygiene was up to standard enough to proceed on to the next task, and to keep my regular visit to the dentist down to a one-year minimum. After I brushed my teeth, I bathed under running water, using a soap made from a mixture of animal fats and other “anti-bacterial” agents. If I don’t practice this ritual at least once a day, it would be considered unsanitary and socially unacceptable. Bathing is considered a necessary daily act and something that is just as important as feeding myself if I am going to make it in an aesthetically valued society.
After I finished bathing and brushing my teeth, I chose the clothes that I would wear for the day. This morning was like any other day in the sense that I would go to work for eight hours, the standard allotted time period for the gainfully employed. I chose to wear a pair of slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie, not that I had much of a choice whether or not I wanted to wear the tie. The tie is a standard symbol of formality in the American business world and is often a requirement for anyone that works in an office setting. After I finished this ritual of dressing myself, I found myself sitting in a cubical, punching numbers on a keyboard, and wondering why we are subjected to these rituals on a daily basis. I wondered who developed the institution of modern medicine as the only acceptable practice for healing our bodies, who decided that work should be a socialized action that everyone takes part in, and why we care so much for our appearances to the point that it defines our opportunities for social mobility. Anyways, I realized that I better get back to work before the boss noticed me daydreaming at the desk. I desperately need the medical insurance if I want to continue taking care of my teeth, never mind afford the clothes I need to keep my job, pay for my gym membership, or buy my children Christmas presents.
Christmasthat’s a whole different story for another day
References
Miner, Horace M. "Body Ritual among the Nacirema." American Anthropologist 58 (1956): 503-507.
