Are diets considered body modification? First, I surveyed a few of my friends to see their point of views:
“Do you consider a diet to be an example of body modification?”
“Technically, I think it is. However, I personally do not consider diets part of body modification. To me, body modification is something that people have professionals do to their body: piercings, tattoos, etc. are all done by professionals. Diets, however, do not rely on professionals. Some do, but for the most part, not really.” –Jackie, 20 years old
“Yes. If you are eating differently than before, you are “modifying” your body.” –Laura G., 19 years old
“Yes, because you are MODIFYING your body, but it isn’t as radical as tattoos, etc. since it does not alter your body’s original state.”—Amanda, 18 years old
“No! Body modification is kind of like getting a new hood for your car. You change it completely. Now let’s relate that to humans; a person gets new boobs to modified themselves. But a diet? That’s like cleaning your car. You remove trash from it, but it’s still your car. You remove fat from your body, but it’s still your body.” –Trey, 21 years old
“I agree with above.” –Ray Scott, 20 years old
“Yes, because you look different when you get a tattoo and you look different when you lose 40+ pounds. People notice! It influences how people view you, which also is part of body modification.”—Bill, 23 years old.
“Not body modification—you aren’t doing anything unnatural to your body, unlike tattoos, etc. I consider it more of getting yourself healthier and looking better. However, there are extremes. For people who are anorexic, they have mental issues that affect their modified bodies. But, I consider myself slightly overweight, and that not right. I’d rather be at a healthier weight, even if I have to watch what I eat and exercise a little more. But I can see it both ways. The more extreme parts of diets are what I think is body modification.”—Laura H., 24 years old
Next, I interviewed one of my best friends who is currently taking diet pills. Her name is Amy and she is 20 years old and a student at Lenior-Rhyne.
“Do you think of diets as body modification?”
---“Yes, you are making your outward appearance look different, which falls into the modification category.”
“What made you turn to taking diet pills?”
---“I needed and wanted to lose a little weight. I was a healthy weight, but I had just broke up with my boyfriend and I wanted a “new” me. It seemed like a fast solution, so I figured why not!”
“What diet pills are you taking and why did you choose them?”
---“I am taking Dexatrim Max. I like the fact that it curved my appetite. I was always hungry! I would eat when I was studying, watching movies, when I was bored, everything! I was never satisfied. So, I figured I would give it a try.”
“How did you learn about Dexatrim Max?”
---“TV advertisements.”
“Have you noticed a difference in your appearance?”
---“I lost about five pounds during the first month. I feel better about myself; my confidence has boosted drastically.”
“Have you noticed people treating you differently?”
---“No.”
"Do you think this method of body modification is okay for everyone?"
---"No. You still need to eat properly and exercise. Diet pills are supplements, they help speed up the process, not erase fat all by themselves. People who are using them to fit into size 0 jeans for modeling purposes is wrong. You are hurting yourself. When I get down to my weight goal (140 pounds), I will stop taking the pills and watch what I eat permanently. But they are not okay for everyone, especially if they are using them for the wrong reasons."
Friday, December 3, 2010
Circumcision Interview
This is an interview with a 29 year old male, he is not circumcised, but his 2 month old son is.
Q: Do you think babies should be circumcised?
A: I think it is up to the parents to decide if they want it done. I don't think older children should be circumcised, but I don't disagree with it.
Q: How do you feel about your son being circumcised even though you are not?
A: I think if he wasn't he would have more sensitivity, and more fulfilled sexual experiences when he is an adult. But, I don't disagree with it.
Q: Do you think being circumcised negatively effects size?
A: No
Q: Have you or your son ever had any hygiene problems associated with circumcision either because you are or are not?
A: No neither of us have.
Q: What would be your argument for not being circumcised?
A: The only thing I think it effects is sensitivity, and that is why I didn't really want my son to be circumcised, but my wife did not want to think of our son that way, and I guess she saw more reasons that we should, but I don't think it effects anything else and I have never had any problems with it.
Forced Body Modification (WARNING! Explict pictures!)
Most people today have their children circumcised because of health or hygienic reasons. Although, science has not been able to prove either way if having this procedure actually has any affect on either. Some religions like Judaism believe that it is God’s commandment to have the procedure, and some argue that religious believes and sacrifices to God mark the beginnings of the procedure. However some science suggests it dates back to Roman times and evidence of similar procedures can be found on the purified mummies of Egyptians. Further arguments about circumcision include decreased risks of HIV if you have had the procedure, and decreased sensitivity too. Some research even suggests that size can be greatly affected by having the procedure done.
Interestingly, in some cultures it is customary to remove the labia minora on female genitalia during puberty. In the US we refer to this as female genitalia mutilation and the majority of Americans strongly disagree with this procedure, however currently in the United States over fifty percent of newborn baby boys have circumcisions. Why do we call this removal of outer skin on boys a simple medical procedure, circumcision; but for females the same removal of outer skin on the genitalia is called mutilation?
WARNING!!!!!
Below are graphic pictures of male circumcision and female genitalia mutilation, be advised!
Does one of these look more acceptable to you?
Resources:
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Maleya: Cosmetic Dentistry : Phase Two
Phase two begins with my dentist telling me that in order to fulfill his requirements for his study, he would need to do eight teeth instead of four. At first I thought that I would not want to have this done because why would I want to put fake plaster on four more of my teeth that really in my opinion don’t need it. I think he could tell that I was unsure, and at first I felt sort of offended, though I am not sure why now. He said that I should take a couple weeks to think about it and let him know, and that he was fine with it either way. If I decided that I did not want to do it, he would be able to finish his study later. So after much consideration, I decided that I did want to do it, I thought I was getting even more work done for free, and that it was better quality than I would be able to afford. See, my dentist would be putting porcelain veneers vs. acrylic veneers which is what I already have and need to be replaced now. The acrylic only last about 10 or so years, obviously they last longer, I have had mine for about 15 years or a little less. The porcelain veneers are stronger and more durable, and are said to last twice as long as the acrylic ones. So given the amount of time I have had the acrylic ones, I may not ever have to have them done again. With that in mind, I called the dentist and let him know I was ready to move forward.
The next step I am waiting for is to have my existing acrylic veneers taken off, my real teeth cleaned and “buffed” which apparently gets them ready for the veneer and helps it attach better, and then I will have temporary veneers put on until my porcelain set came in from a laboratory. Then I my next visit, weeks later would be having the temps taken off, and the porcelain veneers put on! After that they would make sure everything felt ok, send me home and have me call if I noticed any rough spots. My last visit will be having my pictures taken again, for another uncomfortable two hours, but it will be well worth it in the end.
Friday, November 19, 2010
What does body modification include?
I was conducting an interview on my friend for this project when she asked, “What all does body modification include?” I got to thinking about it and I only knew of the basics: tattoos, ear piercing, tanning, etc. But what about all of those other extreme things I see in our society? What are they called and what makes people want to do it?
I have no tattoos and I rarely take part in body modification actions. I have both of my ears pierced once and I go to the tanning bed just to get a base tan before the summer. I whiten my teeth every other year and I wear a minimal amount of make-up every day. I do not have much knowledge about body modification and frankly, some of it, for a better lack of words, freaks me out. I have seen people hang padlocks from their ears, stick tooth pics through their noses and have even watch a guy get branded. Is it because of attention? I, for one, think some of it is gross and I can hardly stand to look at it. But, for others, it is the thrill the adrenalin rush and the “high” one gets from the procedure. Some simply enjoy bragging to their friends and watching the squeamish (like me!) turn away.
Not all body modifications are extreme. Some people only want one or two tattoos and a few piercing, where others want to be tattooed all over. This post is showing the more extreme (for me, this is very extreme!) sides of body modification. First of all, here is a list, compliments of Wikipedia, of several examples and descriptions of body modification. Following the list are pictures of a few of the examples I found to show people with their extremely modified bodies.
1. Body piercing: practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn; sometimes further modified by stretching
2. Ear piercing: the most common type of body modification
3. Pearling: genital beading
4. Neck ring: multiple neck rings are worn to stretch the neck; common in African Tribes
5. Scrotal implants: beads or objects implanted inside the scrotum, typically either to replace missing testicles, or to enhance the appearance of the scrotum
6. Eyeball tattooing: njection of a pigment into the cornea
7. Extraocular implant: the implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the eye
8. Surface Piercing: a surface piercing is a piercing where the entrance and exit holes are pierced through the same flat area of skin
9. Microdermal implants: are a form of body modification which gives the aesthetic appearance of a transdermal implant, but without the complications of the much more complicated surgery associated with transdermal implants
10. Transdermal implant: implantation of an object below the dermis, but which exits the skin at one or more points
11. Breast implants: insertion of silicone bags filled with silicone gel or saline solution into the breasts to increase their size, or to restore a more normal appearance after surgery
12. Silicone injection (illegal in the US): injections of silicone into the body, and in this context generally) to the male genitalia
13. Subdermal implant: implantation of an object that resides entirely below the dermis
14. Hair cutting: grooming hair to prevent dead ends and increase health
15. Hair removal: lasar hair removal is most common; permanently removing unwanted hair
16. Male circumcision: the partial or full removal of the foreskin
17. Female genital cutting: removal of the labia minora or the clitoral hood
18. Frenectomy: to remove a section of tissue (the frenulum) that attached to the gingival tissue between two teeth
19. Genital bisection: splitting of both the underside and the top of the penis
20. Meatotomy: splitting of the underside of the glans penis
21. Headsplitting: splitting of both the underside and the top of the glans penis
22. Nipple removal: removing the nipples
23. Nipple splitting: splitting open either one or two nipples
24. Subincision: splitting of the underside of the penis
25. Tongue splitting: bisection of the tongue similar to a snake's
26. Trepanation: drilling a hole into the skull
27. Corsetry or tightlacing: binding of the waist and shaping of the torso
28. Cranial binding: modification of the shape of infants' heads, now extremely rare
29. Breast ironing: pressing (sometimes with a heated object) the breasts of a pubescent female to prevent their growth
30. Foot binding: compression of the feet of girls to modify them for aesthetic reasons
31. Anal stretching: Like stretching a piercing, it involves slow process over an extended period of time
32. Branding: controlled burning or cauterizing of tissue to encourage intentional scarring
33. Ear shaping: modifying the shape of one’s ear (which includes ear cropping, ear pointing or "elfing”)
34. Scarification: cutting or removal of dermis with the intent to encourage intentional scarring
35. Tooth filing: to file teeth to make them shape and pointy.
36. Teeth whitening: placing chemicals on our teeth to remove any stains and make them a brighter white.
37. Tanning: going to a tanning bed or lying out in the sun to make one’s skin darker.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_modification, http://dictionary.reference.com/, http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/, http://urbantitan.com/10-most-bizarre-body-modifications/, http://www.sodahead.com/living/extreme-body-modification-how-much-is-too-much/question-1118889/, http://sweettaterblog.com/category/news/health/
I have no tattoos and I rarely take part in body modification actions. I have both of my ears pierced once and I go to the tanning bed just to get a base tan before the summer. I whiten my teeth every other year and I wear a minimal amount of make-up every day. I do not have much knowledge about body modification and frankly, some of it, for a better lack of words, freaks me out. I have seen people hang padlocks from their ears, stick tooth pics through their noses and have even watch a guy get branded. Is it because of attention? I, for one, think some of it is gross and I can hardly stand to look at it. But, for others, it is the thrill the adrenalin rush and the “high” one gets from the procedure. Some simply enjoy bragging to their friends and watching the squeamish (like me!) turn away.
Not all body modifications are extreme. Some people only want one or two tattoos and a few piercing, where others want to be tattooed all over. This post is showing the more extreme (for me, this is very extreme!) sides of body modification. First of all, here is a list, compliments of Wikipedia, of several examples and descriptions of body modification. Following the list are pictures of a few of the examples I found to show people with their extremely modified bodies.
1. Body piercing: practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn; sometimes further modified by stretching
2. Ear piercing: the most common type of body modification
3. Pearling: genital beading
4. Neck ring: multiple neck rings are worn to stretch the neck; common in African Tribes
5. Scrotal implants: beads or objects implanted inside the scrotum, typically either to replace missing testicles, or to enhance the appearance of the scrotum
6. Eyeball tattooing: njection of a pigment into the cornea
7. Extraocular implant: the implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the eye
8. Surface Piercing: a surface piercing is a piercing where the entrance and exit holes are pierced through the same flat area of skin
9. Microdermal implants: are a form of body modification which gives the aesthetic appearance of a transdermal implant, but without the complications of the much more complicated surgery associated with transdermal implants
10. Transdermal implant: implantation of an object below the dermis, but which exits the skin at one or more points
11. Breast implants: insertion of silicone bags filled with silicone gel or saline solution into the breasts to increase their size, or to restore a more normal appearance after surgery
12. Silicone injection (illegal in the US): injections of silicone into the body, and in this context generally) to the male genitalia
13. Subdermal implant: implantation of an object that resides entirely below the dermis
14. Hair cutting: grooming hair to prevent dead ends and increase health
15. Hair removal: lasar hair removal is most common; permanently removing unwanted hair
16. Male circumcision: the partial or full removal of the foreskin
17. Female genital cutting: removal of the labia minora or the clitoral hood
18. Frenectomy: to remove a section of tissue (the frenulum) that attached to the gingival tissue between two teeth
19. Genital bisection: splitting of both the underside and the top of the penis
20. Meatotomy: splitting of the underside of the glans penis
21. Headsplitting: splitting of both the underside and the top of the glans penis
22. Nipple removal: removing the nipples
23. Nipple splitting: splitting open either one or two nipples
24. Subincision: splitting of the underside of the penis
25. Tongue splitting: bisection of the tongue similar to a snake's
26. Trepanation: drilling a hole into the skull
27. Corsetry or tightlacing: binding of the waist and shaping of the torso
28. Cranial binding: modification of the shape of infants' heads, now extremely rare
29. Breast ironing: pressing (sometimes with a heated object) the breasts of a pubescent female to prevent their growth
30. Foot binding: compression of the feet of girls to modify them for aesthetic reasons
31. Anal stretching: Like stretching a piercing, it involves slow process over an extended period of time
32. Branding: controlled burning or cauterizing of tissue to encourage intentional scarring
33. Ear shaping: modifying the shape of one’s ear (which includes ear cropping, ear pointing or "elfing”)
34. Scarification: cutting or removal of dermis with the intent to encourage intentional scarring
35. Tooth filing: to file teeth to make them shape and pointy.
36. Teeth whitening: placing chemicals on our teeth to remove any stains and make them a brighter white.
37. Tanning: going to a tanning bed or lying out in the sun to make one’s skin darker.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_modification, http://dictionary.reference.com/, http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/, http://urbantitan.com/10-most-bizarre-body-modifications/, http://www.sodahead.com/living/extreme-body-modification-how-much-is-too-much/question-1118889/, http://sweettaterblog.com/category/news/health/
An interview with my Amish friend, Katie.
For the record, Katie speaks in a Dutch-English accent and some words that she used are not common to our dialect. I had to edit a few or her responses in order for them to make sense. Also, the Amish refer to all non-Amish as English.
“What are your beliefs when it comes to tattoos, piercings, or other methods of body modification?”
“I, along with other believers of the Amish faith, do not believe in experimenting with those types of things. We are happy with how we are; how God made us. We do not adorn ourselves with jewelry or ruin our skin with tattoos. To us, it is sinful and inappropriate. We do not approve of it and are strictly prohibited from editing ourselves from how we truly are.”
“Does it offend you if you see an Englishman or Englishwoman with tattoos or piercings?”
“We try not to stare, but sometimes it is hard not to. Just as visitors stare at us because we are different, we stare at the English because they are different from us! But I typically do not get offended unless they are very disrespectful by exposing tattoos or piercing that are in private locations. We are very conservative, so when visitors interact with us, we wish for them to be very conservative as well.”
“When you were younger, did you ever want to wear jewelry or make-up?”
“No. I was around my friends and family who did not wear those things and I did not want to be different from them. I suppose it is just the opposite for the English. The most “jewelry” I wore was my bonnet. When I did go to the mall or the shopping centers for shoes, I would see the shiny necklaces and the make-up in the stores, but I never admired them. I was comfortable without them.”
“If you do not wear jewelry, how do other men know that you are no longer single?”
“For women, we have no sign to others that we are married. It is just known. Or, if we are carrying a baby, that usually gives it away. But men, they stop shaving their beards once they are in a committed relationship (engagement for us). They will still shave this area (she points to the mustache and goatee face location), but the rest will grow.”
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Suspension: One Teens Journey to Nirvana
Charles Mitchell (Charlie) is your average 19 year old; He is a student at UNC Greensboro, enjoys reading, music, and being with his friends, and is active with his Church. Charlie's Church however, is different than most. He is a member of the Church of Body Modification. As a member, Charlie partook in a body suspension. To get a better insight about suspension, I asked Charlie some questions about his experience.
1) What is suspension and what does it mean to you?
Body suspension is the act of lifting the body off of the ground and suspending the body by hooks placed into the skin.
The memories of my time in the air hold only peace and positivity I feel as if I achieved nirvana for the brief period of time I was airborne. I had succeeded in
something that I had doubted I could do. I had faced physical pain, made no attempt to shy away from it. I took my doubts and fears and put them aside to attain my first taste of flight. Any time I am faced with pain, physical or emotional, I know that I have been through worse. I know that I have the strength to go after what I want.
2) Why did you decide to partake in a suspension?
For me the three main reasons I suspended were to prove to myself that I could, to finally face pain head on instead of avoiding it and as sort of a rite of passage into the modified community. I had a rough childhood, and one of my few coping mechanisms was escapism. I would remove myself from pain or tribulation just to keep going. Though there came a time when I realized that I had to face things head-on instead of dodging them. It may seem masochistic to externalize internal pains, but I knew that if I could withstand the physical pain of this experience everything would dull in comparison. In essence it was an attempt to transcend the limitations I put upon myself. It also served as a proverbial notch on my belt. Not that everyone who considers themselves to be part of the [Church of Body Modification] community has to attempt suspension but rather it serves as an evidence for someone’s strength and perseverance.
3) What is the procedure for a body suspension?
Before the suspension, plans have to be made between the person facilitating the suspension and the person to be suspended... Then the person to be suspending has to mentally prepare for the act of suspension. From my own experience and discussions with others who have suspended the main mental blocks are pain, fear of failure and fear of falling. Often meditation, prayer and fasting are precursors to suspension. The body must also be well hydrated and it is usually recommended that a small yet healthy meal is consumed a few hours before the act.
The process leading up to a basic suspension can take up to two hours. The area the suspension is taking place has to be set up. There are many methods most common are using large trees and setting a pulley system on a thick branch or an actual suspension rig that has been created for the sole purpose of holding a person’s weight. When the person being suspended arrives, the area being pierced has to be massaged to loosen up the muscles and skin. The piercer then has to mark the points that will be pierced. The size of the needle is usually 6 gauge (approximately 4 millimeters or roughly the size of a chopstick) and for the suspension I did four hooks and four needles were used. Usually the person being suspended lays down upon a massage table. The process of piercing that is accepted by the leaders of modern body suspension is placing the hook inside the back of a hollow needle using the hooks as a handle and pushing the needle through the skin and following instantly with the hook. The needle is then removed and disposed of. There are other, more dangerous yet more historical methods of putting the hooks into the body, such as sharpening the hooks or using an actual knife to make the incision (which is what the Mandan Tribe practiced). Once all the hooks are inserted into the skin, the person to be suspended stands up and the facilitator ties the hooks to the previously set up rig. Now is when both the pain and the progress occur. This is the point between fear and flight, torture and transcendence, entrapment and enlightenment. When the hooks are in, the lines are tied and the tension begins. For most people, including me, this is the hardest part. I started out on a slight hill with my back facing a very old oak tree; in front of me was my piercer, and suspension facilitator Jason Moesly. This is not only the painful part of the suspension but it is also one of the most compassion filled moments. Not only was Jason there but two good friends of mine Richard Ivey III and his now fiancée Janet Beyersdorf. I was surrounded by people who were all there to support me. Jason literally held my hands and guided me down the subtle slope. Each step cause more and more pain in my back, since the weight of my body was descending and the hooks in my back were staying stationary I was being pulled in two different directions. I felt that at this point I could never make it off of the ground. Richard kept telling me that I could do it and to just let go and this reassurance is what empowered me to face the worst pain of my life and step down even more. Again unsure of whether or not I could take the pain once I got into the air, I paused for a moment and tripped over a root protruding from the ground. It was at that moment that I rose above above both the earth and my expectations for myself.
4) Have you modified your body in any other way? (including piercings, tattoos, braces, plastic surgery etc.)
-both sides of my bottom lip pierced
-my nasal septum (usually referred to as just "septum")
-Both of my earlobes pierced twice (4 total) The bottom two are stretched to 1/2"
-2 "rook" piercings. The rook is inner cartilage
-Both of my nipples are pierced.
I don't have any tattoos and haven't had any plastic done but the piercings I do have, and the tattoos I plan to are all personally things that I find aesthetically pleasing. They also help me feel more comfortable in who I am. Knowing that I wanted to change something about my appearance and being able to do so helps me find solace in a word saturated with media pressures to look and act certain ways. Also as a member of the Church of Body Modification I like to focus on the feeling of spirituality in having or getting modifications.
Below are some photos of Charlie's body suspension:
Inserting the hooks:
Mid-suspension:
Coming down:
Photos are property of Janet Beyersdorf
1) What is suspension and what does it mean to you?
Body suspension is the act of lifting the body off of the ground and suspending the body by hooks placed into the skin.
The memories of my time in the air hold only peace and positivity I feel as if I achieved nirvana for the brief period of time I was airborne. I had succeeded in
something that I had doubted I could do. I had faced physical pain, made no attempt to shy away from it. I took my doubts and fears and put them aside to attain my first taste of flight. Any time I am faced with pain, physical or emotional, I know that I have been through worse. I know that I have the strength to go after what I want.
2) Why did you decide to partake in a suspension?
For me the three main reasons I suspended were to prove to myself that I could, to finally face pain head on instead of avoiding it and as sort of a rite of passage into the modified community. I had a rough childhood, and one of my few coping mechanisms was escapism. I would remove myself from pain or tribulation just to keep going. Though there came a time when I realized that I had to face things head-on instead of dodging them. It may seem masochistic to externalize internal pains, but I knew that if I could withstand the physical pain of this experience everything would dull in comparison. In essence it was an attempt to transcend the limitations I put upon myself. It also served as a proverbial notch on my belt. Not that everyone who considers themselves to be part of the [Church of Body Modification] community has to attempt suspension but rather it serves as an evidence for someone’s strength and perseverance.
3) What is the procedure for a body suspension?
Before the suspension, plans have to be made between the person facilitating the suspension and the person to be suspended... Then the person to be suspending has to mentally prepare for the act of suspension. From my own experience and discussions with others who have suspended the main mental blocks are pain, fear of failure and fear of falling. Often meditation, prayer and fasting are precursors to suspension. The body must also be well hydrated and it is usually recommended that a small yet healthy meal is consumed a few hours before the act.
The process leading up to a basic suspension can take up to two hours. The area the suspension is taking place has to be set up. There are many methods most common are using large trees and setting a pulley system on a thick branch or an actual suspension rig that has been created for the sole purpose of holding a person’s weight. When the person being suspended arrives, the area being pierced has to be massaged to loosen up the muscles and skin. The piercer then has to mark the points that will be pierced. The size of the needle is usually 6 gauge (approximately 4 millimeters or roughly the size of a chopstick) and for the suspension I did four hooks and four needles were used. Usually the person being suspended lays down upon a massage table. The process of piercing that is accepted by the leaders of modern body suspension is placing the hook inside the back of a hollow needle using the hooks as a handle and pushing the needle through the skin and following instantly with the hook. The needle is then removed and disposed of. There are other, more dangerous yet more historical methods of putting the hooks into the body, such as sharpening the hooks or using an actual knife to make the incision (which is what the Mandan Tribe practiced). Once all the hooks are inserted into the skin, the person to be suspended stands up and the facilitator ties the hooks to the previously set up rig. Now is when both the pain and the progress occur. This is the point between fear and flight, torture and transcendence, entrapment and enlightenment. When the hooks are in, the lines are tied and the tension begins. For most people, including me, this is the hardest part. I started out on a slight hill with my back facing a very old oak tree; in front of me was my piercer, and suspension facilitator Jason Moesly. This is not only the painful part of the suspension but it is also one of the most compassion filled moments. Not only was Jason there but two good friends of mine Richard Ivey III and his now fiancée Janet Beyersdorf. I was surrounded by people who were all there to support me. Jason literally held my hands and guided me down the subtle slope. Each step cause more and more pain in my back, since the weight of my body was descending and the hooks in my back were staying stationary I was being pulled in two different directions. I felt that at this point I could never make it off of the ground. Richard kept telling me that I could do it and to just let go and this reassurance is what empowered me to face the worst pain of my life and step down even more. Again unsure of whether or not I could take the pain once I got into the air, I paused for a moment and tripped over a root protruding from the ground. It was at that moment that I rose above above both the earth and my expectations for myself.
4) Have you modified your body in any other way? (including piercings, tattoos, braces, plastic surgery etc.)
-both sides of my bottom lip pierced
-my nasal septum (usually referred to as just "septum")
-Both of my earlobes pierced twice (4 total) The bottom two are stretched to 1/2"
-2 "rook" piercings. The rook is inner cartilage
-Both of my nipples are pierced.
I don't have any tattoos and haven't had any plastic done but the piercings I do have, and the tattoos I plan to are all personally things that I find aesthetically pleasing. They also help me feel more comfortable in who I am. Knowing that I wanted to change something about my appearance and being able to do so helps me find solace in a word saturated with media pressures to look and act certain ways. Also as a member of the Church of Body Modification I like to focus on the feeling of spirituality in having or getting modifications.
Below are some photos of Charlie's body suspension:
Inserting the hooks:
Mid-suspension:
Coming down:
Photos are property of Janet Beyersdorf
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