Do you think it is ethically correct to hold on to a tradition that is merely practiced for conforming to beauty standards?
Neck rings have been worn in many cultures and periods. They are coils of brass that tightly cover the necks of the wearer, giving the illusion of long necks. Although the origins of this cultural practice are unknown, it is still practiced today; however, not as widely as it once used to be. So what is the problem with this tradition? To begin, girls start wearing these heavy coils from as young as 5 years old solely for the purpose of conforming to beauty standards; long necks are considered attractive. Interestingly, putting all that weight around the neck
does not even lengthen or actually elongate the neck. The weight and pressure push down on the collar bones of the wearer, giving the illusion of an elongated neck. Evidently, there is a multitude of health risks involved with this as the neck is a fairly sensitive area. Not only it is uncomfortable for the wearer to carry so much weight around their neck, but this practice can also cause permanent damages, affecting the posture, weakening the muscles, and even causing paralysis. Aren’t traditions supposed to be empowering and not be a cause of health risks and encourage unrealistic beauty standards?
Image source
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Kayan_woman_with_neck_rings.jpg
Source
https://www.urbo.com/content/the-ancient-tradition-of-neck-elongation-explained/
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