Assignment: The Social Skin (4/4)

THE SOCIAL SKIN

Cultural Values and Beliefs About Hair, Dress, and Bodily Adornment

due 4/4

“The surface of the body seems to be everywhere treated not only as the boundary of the individual as a biological and psychological entity, but as the frontier of the social self (Turner)”

Select ONE of the three topics below and discuss the cultural meaning you attribute to this “social skin (Turner). (About 3 pages)  Make sure that you reference Terrance Turner’s article “The Social Skin” along with other readings of your choice from class. Be sure to discuss the role of your “skin” in biological, psychological and social terms.

1.     Dress - Describe your dress style. How do you vary it for different social situations (e.g., work, school, home, date, wedding)? Explain why you do or do not vary it. What do these varying styles symbolize for you? Where do you get these beliefs? What does your dress style mean in terms of cultural values, beliefs and sense of self?

2.     Hair - Describe your hair style. How do you vary it for different situations (e.g., work, school, home, date, wedding)? Explain why you do or do not vary it. What do these varying styles symbolize for you?  Where do you get these beliefs? What does your hair style mean in terms of cultural values, beliefs and sense of self?

3.     Bodily Adornment - What are some of your bodily adornment practices (they can be temporary or permanent)?  How do you vary your display or practices for different social situations (e.g., work, school, home, date, wedding)? Explain why you do or do not vary it. What do these varying presentations symbolize for you? Where do you get these beliefs? What does your adornment mean in terms of cultural values, beliefs and sense of self?