Human mutilation is an exercise that is historic in Asia Europe and in every continent, having a cultural attachment to it. For instance, in Africa, the lower teeth of the fore jaw were removed for particular reasons, which were relevant to that moment. With time however, human body mutilation has mutated to host personal and cultural reasons and the first reason being aesthetic part of it. Human body mutilation was a way of enhancing a certain physical character which was consistent with the descent one came from. Women and men would their ears and noses pierced and some special pieces of jewellery inserted to make them look elegant as per the standards of those times. The community to mark a transition from childhood to adulthood in both men and women used some other mutilations. The aesthetic value of mutilation can never be emphasized beyond what it was in the early days considering the fact that the current world has a synonymous way of expressing the same (Siebers, 2000). Tattoos are the most common human body mutilation in the world today and they are spreading like wild fire. Perhaps, people like the images that are ascribed in their bodies using special ink and scribing machine. Most of the celebrities, athletes and artists in the world today have at least a tattoo on their body, which explains the fame, and beauty that is associated with this kind of human body mutilation.
What is notable with tattoos in the 21st century is the fact that, in most cases, they are associated with a personality, institution, or cultural concept and that are applicable to both men and women. Most tattoos are actually accepted from the point of view of the message they portray of a person so that, if a person associated with designs like a human skull, the message about them is that of a person who is non cohesive with another.
People who will adopt the tattoo like that of the flag of their country will be sending the message of patriotism and the love for the colors of their national flag (Siebers, 2000).
The positive effects of tattoos are considered at a personal level in the sense that, many ink lovers like to see a permanent mark of their choice lying on their skin. In some more interesting instances, somebody may use tattoos to express their affiliations to their loved ones and would perhaps, feel the accomplishment of any sort when they have the names of their loved ones tattooed on their bodies. As a way of commemorating our close friends or family members who we feel so close to them and have an emotional attachment, having them tattooed on our bodies will always relieve our feelings of any grief. Actually, what the tattoo does is enable one to wear their heart on their sleeve, which is a way of showing love for themselves and even their closest friends. Some people get the inspiration they so want from the tattoos they have on their skin. For instance, a divorced black woman in support of black women's movement will prefer to have a tattoo of a modern and strong black woman on them. The other thing that is positive with the tattoos is the fact that, someone can design their own images and have them tattooed on them. In such a circumstance, the pride that somebody feels having their own designs tattooed on them and in addition, the fact that someone is able to choose a place in their body for placement of the tattoo.
Actually, people who engaged in war at days earlier than 19th century know how well body mutilations showed their intelligence, mutilations that were identified within a crowed separated the enemies and intruders from the people of the same dissection of the community. For instance in New Zealand, such mutilations spoke of the status, achievements in war and their tribal affiliations of the person who bore such mutilations of their body.
The greater part of believers of the past subscribed to the school of thought that tattoos displayed a person’s spiritual power and life force and that is why today, the same beliefs have been passed by legends who composed songs on the same. In the African descent, mutilations were very important for aesthetic and health and in particular first aid and emergency services to a sick person. For instance, when somebody is sick and is unable to drink any liquid, the space in the front teeth of the lower jaw would be used to give them water or milk as they await treatment. Furthermore, some mutilations were like that of branding were used by people of a cult in a society to identify themselves from the crowd.
However, when someone is suffering from a disease that endangers the whole life, mutilation of that part of the body for instance, the limbs, the arms or the toes and fingers is non debatable.
Female genital mutilation is associated with psychological issues as it affects or disfigures the woman's genitalia. World Health Organization defines the female genital mutilation as all actions that involve total, or partial removal of the external female genitalia or injuring the female genital organs, without any medical reasons. Most ethnic groups practice FGM as a rite of passage in Northeast Africa and sub-Saharan. The practices are carried out without any anesthesia and by use of a knife or a razor blade. This procedure is painful and causes a lot of torture on the victims. This procedure is mostly carried out on the girls from birth to puberty. The procedure involves the removal of the clitoris or the inner part of the labia. This procedure is dangerous as some of the girls bleed to death is the procedure is carried out by a person who is not familiar with the process. Unlike male mutilation, female genital mutilation has no health benefits but rather results to more health risks to the victim.
In a multicultural society and context, human mutilation must be applied rationally and in accordance to the norms of a multicultural society without exhibiting any form of bias. For instance, if it is for the purpose of punishment, whoever is tasked with that responsibility should justify beyond any doubt that mutilation is necessary otherwise, the world should be able to adopt any corrective measure other than torture. The context of beauty in a mutilated body attracts controversial standpoints in a multicultural environment since religion also plays an important role in informing the judgments of individual. The fact that beauty has been generalized means that anyone can perceive anything and regard it as beauty although it will not be consistent with everyone by the end of the day. Human mutilation is also a health concern; for instance, internal organ transplant is always triggered by the willingness of somebody to save a life of somebody. In such a case, human mutilation is unavoidable at all especially when someone has been identified, and is willing to take the risk (Kanniyakonil, 2005).
Mutilations are a healthy part of life in the 21st century despite the fact that in some cases, they are legally prohibited. For most men in the world, circumcision is a ritual that is basically signified by the mutilation of the manhood for purposes of cleanliness and preparing someone for adulthood. However, the fact that some races and tribes do not practice the same does not make them lesser human beings. On the contrary, female genital mutilation has been criticized on an international front and campaigns are always ongoing discouraging people from allowing young women to go through the same.
This is because, health science has gone ahead and proven that the fulfillment of public demands is not sufficient enough to compromise with the future lives of an innocent individual (Denniston, 1997). The controversy surrounding birth complications to the point of death among women whose genitals have been mutilated, have made it a concern among health practitioners to de-campaign the act everywhere in the world. In this case, some aspect of human mutilation is no longer considered a part of life while others are embraced with equal measure as other forms of aesthetic. In the current environment, what people do is termed as natural and as such, it should conform with what is considered normal so that, when somebody adopts a form of mutilation in themselves, it should not be attracting unnecessary attention from other quotas. As much as the world around us may be heard claiming that man is his own lord and as such should do whatever they feel is good for them. Perhaps what is good for someone is poisonous to the others around them and therefore, the multicultural society is a real litmus test to the mutilations people are ready to subject themselves to.
References
Denniston, G. C. (1997). Sexual mutilations: A human tragedy. New York [u.a.: Plenum Press.
Have, H. . (1998). Ownership of the human body: Philosophical considerations on the use of the human body and its parts in healthcare. Dordrecht [u.a.: Kluwer Acad. Publ.
Kanniyakonil, S. (2005). Living organ donation and transplantation: A medical, legal, and moral theological appraisal. Kottayam: Oriental Institute of Religious Studies India.
Siebers, T. (2000). The body aesthetic: From fine art to body modification. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan Press.
