Chapter 8: Henslin; Body Ritual Among the Nacirema

Reading this chapter I was a bit confused as to what Nacirema meant. I then looked up the word on google and I got a result back saying that it was American spelled backwards. I then found out in the book that the Nacirema is a North American group that is shown to be around Canada and Mexico. Their shrines and rituals some what relate to the type of cultures I have. As I have said before I am Native American and I am from a small tribe known as Yaqui which just so happen to be where the Nacimera are from. As a Native American we would hold ceremonies to give thanks. With these ceremonies we different rituals to do before giving our thanks. We would have to put make up on, certain piercings, to wear a head dress and we even had to get all of our fears out by sitting in a tent full of steam. Other rituals that I see people doing to their bodies are getting implants or decreasing the size of their breast. The reason I consider this a ritual is because it is used to make yourself look prettier or to feel confident. Some rituals that I do to my body would be facial products to help clean my skin and clear it of any acne. These rituals are usually held in the morning when I wake up and at night before I go to bed. I love doing this because it keeps my skin healthy. Having a healthy face and a healthy body is very important because it can take a toll on your life and the way you live. While reading this chapter the Nacirema believed to keep a strong relationship exist by having good oral and moral characteristics. Although this is true I believe that having a good relationship is based on trust and being real with a person. If you are not being real or being yourself how can you ever trust that person? Trust comes from being real and being yourself. It’s something that has to be earned it’s not easily given. I do believe that having a very good connection with someone is one of the most important things in a strong relationship. If you can not communicate with someone how would you be able to maintain a relationship, whether it be a friend or a significant other even family. Having a good connection is very important but this all comes back to being yourself.