MODULE 9

REACTION
ESSAY
Lopez, Kenje Angeline F.
ZGE 1101 - Art Appreciation
November 11, 2022

 Women’s bodies in Suri, Padaung

and traditional Chinese cultures.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. People can have differing opinions on
what is beautiful. So what one person perceives as flawless and captivating
might be ordinary or unappealing to another. The three documentaries
showed the sides of the three different traditions and three different beauty
symbols. It might be unusual and gruesome to others, but it symbolizes
beauty for them.

The lip plates in Suri women are symbol of fertility and eligibility for marriage.
Once Suri women have reached their puberty, the tribe will use a small
wooden stick to give her a new identity. It is painful to look at but it is one of
their beauty standards which gave them identity in their tribes. On the other
hand, starting at an early age, women of the Padaung tribe wear a coil of
brass rings around their necks. This collar, and the elongated appearance it
gives their necks over time, are Padaung symbols they wear proudly. It
symbolizes beauty, wealth and position. Although some people say that it
protects children from being killed by tigers. Regardless of these reasons, I
believe that these people live their life perfectly in their own perspective.
Furthermore, Footbinding in Chinese was viewed as a rite of passage for
young girls and was believed to be preparation for puberty, menstruation, and
childbirth. But eventually, Chinese put a stop on it when they realize that
binding feet is not a symbol of beauty anymore but a torture, unethical and
inhumane.

The three documentaries showed how culture and tradition affects the
lifestyle of a certain tribe or ethnicity. The smaller the population, the higher
the chance of imposition. The women in Suri Tribe, Padaung tribe, and
traditional Chinese culture were all under the influence that beauty is
everything regardless of pain and permanent deformation of their bodies. For
them, it is indeed that beauty is pain.
Moreover, a patriarchal culture also took place in the documentaries. It
showed that most of these women do these things to please their husbands,
for the sake of getting married, and survival. The patriarchal domination in
these cultures became their norms that made these women think that these
body deformations are needed to be accepted by men in their tribes. It might
be true but it showed women inferiority and lack of women position in their
tribe.

ART APPRECIATION
 Women’s bodies in Suri, Padaung
and traditional Chinese cultures.

On the other hand, we might argue that these traditions look like a social
convention. But in my opinion, it is the hybrid of both individual choice and
social convention. We can say that their norms dictate these kinds of
practices to women, but it eventually became their individual choices. Women
in these cultures became aware of these practices to the point that it made
them believe that it is necessary and best for them.

My key takeaways in these three documentaries are first, we should not feel
the need to change ourselves for the sake of others' approval. It is very hard
to argue against culture and norms especially since I'm living in the modern
era which makes their practices a little bit unusual and unethical on my side
but nevertheless, I personally don't agree with these practices that harms
their own people. I know that they can honor their culture and traditions in
other ways, perhaps oral in tradition or any other tangible cultural things.
Second, as a woman, I believe that it is time for us to establish our position in
our society and don't let patriarchy hinder our decisions in life. Lastly, it is
important that as humans, we need to respect each other's beliefs and norms
for us to live in a world where negativity will not grow but positivity will prevail.

ART APPRECIATION