The Effect of Nacirema Body Ritual and Practices

“An essay article paper provided the reaction to the concept of culture as a system interrelated and interactive parts of society. However, culture can be defined through the lesson provided me with additional insights about how and why people behave so differently in different cultures like with the Nacireman society, which is a horrible and harsh practice. The “Nacirema” is an example of how extreme human behavior can become within the society of the perspective that somehow can affect the perception of other cultures as we have experiences in the reflection of today's generation. Moreover, the concept of culture provides additional insights into how and why people behave differently in different cultures. However, with the Body Ritual among the Nacirema, Miner, wants to emphasize who they are and allow others to visualize the distinctive cultures which were narrowminded and defective when compared in today's generation we have now.”

The Essay

With the Body Ritual among the Nacirema is a satirized ethnographic profile of the Americans. As you noticed that "Nacirema" is a word that means "American," and this is spelled backward.  The body ritual has been describing mundane activities such as brushing one's teeth and visiting doctors as body rituals with magical meanings as shown in Figure 01 as self-explanatory of their practices. Moreover, based on Horace Miner's article, the Body Ritual among the Nacirema, have demonstrated the attitudes and practices of the body that has an influence derived from the many institutions within the Nacireman society. However, the magical beliefs and practices they have with the Nacirema illustrated the unusual aspects that maybe you would not believe as described in the article. Their practices are an extreme example of human behavior that I really don't know why those in existence whereas human violation and against the will of the almighty God, see Figure 02.

Accordingly, the Nacirema ritual was first brought to the attention of anthropologist’s long time ago in 1936, whereas the concept of their culture, I may say, an extreme and very poorly understood that no one can, why? Nobody knows, and only a few have an idea of their cultural origin, although we may say a tradition states that they came from the east, but nobody knows, and this concept of social behavior is in question as it was. However, the article is interesting in knowing how different cultures work and varies depending on how the group or whatever society’s beliefs they are facing and the conceptualize culture may be depending on the geographic location that can be found in every state around the world. But with the Nacireman society, they are isolated from the rest of the world and for us are trying to understand the wisdom of their way of life progressing and the culture which is inherited from generation to generation on their society that has been created and lived in for decades. I really don’t know what to say, but these are happening which you don’t expect even, and that make you crazy at all, nevertheless, let us face the facts that these have been.

The ridiculous things that you can’t imagine that the Nacirema culture had their own “medicine-men” which can use as they would go to the specialist to get healed and relieved on whatever sicknesses and illnesses they have in exchange of extravagant gifts as their payment. However, when you compared in our current culture in this modern world, we always ask for an appointment to the doctor for the illnesses we have and this has been paid it off equivalent to the currency as the government ruling for the medicine we believe that we can cure. Perhaps, this is in contrast with them as they believe in magic for them to be healed. With the article, the medicine men have created an impressive temple, or somewhat they called the latipso, whereas designed in every community according to any size as prescribed to it. Moreover, the ceremonies have been conducted in treating the very sick patients as the medicine men can only be allowed in the temple. The suspicious things when I read the article that the ceremonies have involved not only the miracle worker but the permanent group of vestal maidens who move about the temple chambers in distinctive costume and headdress accordingly, however, the latipso ceremonies were harsh who can be said that it was amazing that whoever entered can recover. Notwithstanding, after has gained and survived in the conducted ceremonies, they will ask for another gift; otherwise the guardians can’t leave the temple, and for sure, that was crazy enough to think of the realization today.

Thus, whatever the culture they presented in today's generation merely is for their society’s thinks and cultural practices, which can be said, unbelievable but these happening and it's true as they. But with the current civilization, we have with the high-tech gadgets and medicines have been scientifically proven to heal of whatever serious illness that might the patients have. However, with the cultures that until now is in existence has made them relied on the thought of magic belief.

Honestly, with the “Body Ritual among the Nacirema,” when I read those, I was surprised and shocked the way they did, and so amazing, but my question is, are those in existence in today’s generation? Even the practices and studies made me surprised about the way they describe the cultures around the world. But anyway, we are already in the modern world, and we can say that’s only a story from a long time ago. And if so, I don’t want to go there, I will stay on my farm and live happily along with my family and would prefer the modern ritual which is a transparent and scientific method that can be a trust of, and routine procedure.

Reflection on the Culture Practices Encountered

I remember also reading such kind of cultures from different African and Asian countries that I knew you know and experienced them too about the culture where neck rings are worn to elongate the neck of a woman, which made me surprised for some reason that can be done but harsh. Additionally, as an OFW expatriate working in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 14-years now. I may say that I am one of the luckiest guys living in the countries for the reasons that I saw of the changes and development especially in Qatar as a country where the constructions have started and emerged last 2004. These are all brief, however, I enumerate below some factual that can be said an amazing based on my observations in the country. Notwithstanding, with all the difficulties in life, I may I am luckiest as nobody has it and mostly few can because of the followings;

1. I saw and meeting different nationalities around the world where are working and helping in the country’s infrastructure and building-built environment development. 
2. I saw and noticed the differences between each nationality on the way how they communicate among themselves, the way they take some foods for their regular schedules, the meals they receive, the philosophical and ideology in their minds towards communal and family aspects.
3. I saw and experienced their cultures and tradition on how they celebrate as practices from their country brought in Qatar or even in the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai). 
4. Throughout the country, almost all religions and beliefs are already in the Middle East (Qatar or UAE - Abu Dhabi / Dubai) where they practically serve as they have had to practice in their state. 
5. Individual gestures were unusual but become ordinary as you can see and observe them every day with their beliefs within the community, perhaps, something that you can learn. 
6. The difficulties of languages from different nationality which makes you amaze where you can ask yourself, “How those words and dialects have been created and have a good understanding?” 
7. The way they perform the work activities and dedication towards the project goals. 
8. The religion and belief on how they perform and serve in the altar either in a house or outside. 
9. The way they eat and to be honest, that made me laugh every time I saw Qatari and Emirates ladies wearing “Abaya” and the full-face veil at the fast foods or even in the restaurants. 
10. Another thing, I encountered three-Qatari Ladies took a picture with their full dress, but after some time, I saw that picture posted on our main board and made me laugh those days because the only thing you can see is their eyes only.  
11. Handshaking feels me embarrassing because every now and then, they are doing those practices every hour...I told myself, "My goodness, here we go again!"...but to be honest, I already inherited that kind of practices as well as greetings of "Salam Alay Kum" every now and then.

I am susceptible and very observant of the environment I am living because this is not my country and I don’t know them, however, the difference of Filipinos to others, that Filipinos have the initiative, workaholic, friendly and charming, adaptable to the environment where they are and to other nationalities, and most religiously intact. Moreover, when I came to 2004 in Qatar, their practices are entirely different and were shocked honestly. Qatar is a Muslim country, and the exercises are the same as what we have heard in Saudi Arabia, starting from their religion itself where the timing parallel on their worship/prayer timing, wherein the establishment had their broken schedule. Whatever may, this causes me a headache and felt crazy in the first year I am working here where you have a 4 to 5-hours of broken time than staying in the office up to 10 pm.

But the socio-cultural has been changed rapidly after 2006 ASIAN Games where Qatar is the country host, and that was a massive change economically where commodities are rapidly increasing as well as the standards of living are tremendously change. Even the culture and practices were changes from being conservative to liberated attitudes. That time, in 2004, the women were dressed entirely not only for the Qataris but to the other nationalities. Otherwise, you will be caught by the police through the jail. Now, most of the ladies are wearing shorts, and you can see through. However, the traditions are still there where it becomes mixtures with the same perspective.

Other nationalities and I, myself, laugh and scrutinize the Hindus activity especially they don’t take beef where most of us are like to eat, but for them, cattle are sacred and costumed practices.

From there and up to now, I genuinely believe and amaze with the Indians nationality, where I also adopt the practices they have especially going to the restaurants that even you are wearing tuxedos. Still, they use their hands to eat for their foods. Additionally, the way they dressed, which whatever we saw and observed in their country, yet they brought it here where usually the lady can see the naked of their back. That’s why it comes to my mind if Filipinos are the same with them, so, Filipinos are wearing “bahag,” and it made me laugh, how crazy the world it was.

I may conclude that wherever you go or even in our country (Philippines) going somewhere, provinces have different cultures, traditions, dialects, and practices, which you will be amazing. The same thing that I have experienced here in Qatar, however, it’s good to have those which you will learn definitely, and the way how you can handle the situations where you are there with them. It is, and that’s what GOD created and gave to us that we must be thankful basically.

Conclusion

Moreover, according to the concept of culture, the societies are structured and composed of groups which have unequal access and control over the resources and benefits. There are different fields of social sciences with various views, and that is, the sociological idea of stratification which means all societies exhibit between individuals. However, the anthropological concept is believed that social stratification is not universal but with human inequality that affects human ecology within the environmental perspective. As a reflection, we have many cultures around the world that can't be denied and hide as well, and many societies living the world with perfections, but I am not expecting that way! How pity they are because they don’t know the realization of life we have n this Earth. Eventually, culture acts as an adaptive mechanism and allows the society to survive in a given environment and practices as they are, with the adjustment to the changes within the environment. The concept of Culture depending upon where we live in or practices that they have inherited from individual ancestors where up to now is in existence, and with those practices, to be honest, I am amazed and asking myself, is it really? Is it happening in the modern generation whereas innovations and high-technology came in? I think everybody will be afraid of it, first of all, with their gestures and the way they approach, practices, and public skills and mindset. And thus, it is because the concept of culture explains the wide variability that we have experiencing and seen unto human behavior.

As part of the lessons and to be acquainted with the cultures where they belong as we have throughout the world of these kinds of practices are amazing and lots of surprises at all. Moreover, according to Ralph Linton (1945), “culture refers to the total way of life from different society, and not simply of those parts and ways which the society regards as higher or more desirable.” The lesson provided me with additional insights about how and why people behave so differently in different cultures like with the Nacireman society, which is a horrible and harsh practice. However, with the wide variability in human behavior of human ecology, each of these societies or the communities in the present generation or the culture like Nacirema in existence can be denied that has its own culture and varies at the various levels from global, regional, national and local differences. Notwithstanding, upon reading them, you will be able to appreciate it as they are and their beliefs, ideas, and practices. Thus, culture is a system with interrelated and interactive parts.

The “Nacirema” is an example of how extreme human behavior can become within the society of the perspective that somehow can affect the perception of other cultures as we have experiences in the reflection of today's generation. The “Nacirema’s” cultural behaviors with respect to their physical appearance as you can see in Figure 02 and the health practices as you can see in Figure 01 that without even understanding or knowledge of the specific beliefs they have or values in their culture, I believe that might seem bizarre or even incomprehensible, which can't be denied how stupidity they are. However, as I understood, the author, Miner, wants to emphasize who they are and allow others to see the distinctive cultures that were narrowminded and defective when compared in today's generation we have now with high technology.

Write-Up Reference can be Read from this Link;

Gomeseria, RV; (February 2019); “The Effect of Nacirema Body Ritual and Practices (Body Ritual among the Nacirema-Horace Miner);” Retrieved from; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331132604_The_Effect_of_Nacirema_Body_Ritual_and_Practices_Body_Ritual_among_the_Nacirema-Horace_Miner