After discussing food last week, we move on to adornment as the topic for the week. Similarly to food, adornment can be a form of expression, which makes it a good topic for discussion. In this realm, there are many ways of expression, such as hairstyle, clothing, piercing, and tattooing. Our values and beliefs often come through in our adornment, which ties back to the topics of values we discussed in week two. The way we express ourselves through dress or body adornment can change over time, but there are certain modifications that are permanent, which is discussed by C.R. Sanders in this week’s reading. Along with the reading there was a presentation we could review, which was very graphic. However, the presentation helped me reflect on some of the questions for this personal reflection, such as what were the core beliefs in my family and community and how are they expressed through dress and body adornment.
There are certain personal beliefs and values of mine that are expressed through the way I dress. I have a value of being healthy and active so I will often wear athletic shorts or shoes. Another big belief of mine is being comfortable, which comes from my dad stressing the importance of being comfortable ever since I can remember. Sweatshirts and comfortable clothing are definitely part of my wardrobe. I wouldn’t say being attractive is a value, but Sanders’ discussion of attractiveness in the reading was interesting to me. Sanders’ states, “We think about attractive people more often, define them as being more healthy, express greater appreciation for their work, and find them to be more appealing interactants” (Sanders 1). As mentioned above, I value being healthy and since being attractive and healthy seems to be related somehow I should value being attractive. Although I believe these assumptions are true, assumptions can be wrong or misguided. A lot of the core beliefs in my family are still prevalent to me today so some of those come through in the way I make decisions and dress.
My values and beliefs definitely influence my decision-making process and the way I make the choices I do. My parents gave me a good baseline of a moral compass for me to build on, which created the way I make decisions. I’m a pretty big thinker so most, if not all, of my choices are calculated and thought out. I also tend to think about the other people involved in the situation and that can sometime affect my choice or decision.
Having a good moral compass and being sympathetic are traits I have developed over time. Over the years, I started to see and notice more things, which really opened my eyes to the world. A big change over the years has been the transition from me listening to everything my parents have to say to now making decisions and problem solving on my own. I believe in a lot of their values, but as I got older I noticed certain values that my parents have might not be exactly true and as valuable to me.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, my core values stem from my family’s core values. A significant belief for my parents was getting my brother and myself active and playing sports. We both played multiple organized sports and spent most of our weekends playing outside. This belief was loud and clear through our clothing, which consisted of multiple shirts, jerseys, and hats of various sports teams. My dad found enjoyment in buying us jerseys of our favorite players, which resulted in a closet full of jerseys. Another core belief for my family is a version of “your body is a temple.” Both my parents are licensed massage therapists so they know significant amount about the body and what body customization does. I don’t think they would be care if I got a piercing, but I don’t think they would be jumping up and down about it. The same goes with a tattoo as I have seen that situation play out with my stepbrother. That belief of keeping your body clean, respecting it, and caring for it definitely speaks for the lack of tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications in the family.
The core beliefs of my peer community are different from the core beliefs of my family. In my peer community there seems to be an emphasis on multiple tattoos, and piercings. These beliefs of self-expression shine through the full sleeve tattoos and gauged ears. Overall, adornment is another way of self expression that if done well can be appealing.
Source: