Body Rituals Among the Nacirema
We might find many things strange about the Nacirema. What might the Nacirema find strange about us? List three possibilities and explain choices
The Nacirema may find it strange that our women do not stick our head inside ovens four times a month. Many American women prefer to wear their hair natural, if they can or to secure it away from their face.
We generally do not practice the Ritual ablution of the mouth for children. This is because it is seen a cruel and will result is criminal charges for the perpetrator and possibly therapy for the child. Instead we permit our children to do and say as they please.
Most people do not limit intercourse to certain phases of the moon. This is because there are several options that both men and women have to avoid pregnancy
The Nacirema value beauty and fear ageing. This is why they spend so much time trying to achieve this ideal by putting heads in ovens, scraping their faces, enlarging or decreasing their breasts, etc. Their norm is to have an aversion to both the body and to bodily functions. This is why they reserve both bodily functions and nakedness for the shrine room. The Nacirema put sanctions on those who do not abide their rituals by shunning them.
What benefit might we derive from studying the Nacirema way of life?
We can learn about how another culture lives and apply the positive aspects of their rituals to our own culture.
Works Cited
Miner, H. "Body Ritual among the Nacirema." American Anthropologist, vol. 58, no. 3, 1956, pp. 503-507, doi:10.1525/aa.1956.58.3.02a00080.
