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Contrary to the stats in the sub-thread, men from patriarchal societies have always subjected women to violent punishments even on the slightest suspicion of unfaithfulness. Some men, if any, might have forgiven their wives in insignificant individual cases but forgiveness,
in such cases where male honor was/is at stake, has never been part of patriarchal code.
This brief thread will discuss the subject of cutting-off noses of women as a punishment for cheating or adultery by women.
[Photo Source & credits: content.time.com/time/covers/0,…]
This brief thread will discuss the subject of cutting-off noses of women as a punishment for cheating or adultery by women.
[Photo Source & credits: content.time.com/time/covers/0,…]
So how old is the bestial custom of cutting of nose? Well, the Code of Hammurabi of ancient Mesopotamia (about 1754 BC) and also laws of the ancient Egypt contain references to the amputations of bodily protrusions such as lips, breasts noses etc.
The practice of rhinoplasty in India in 600-800 BC points to the fact that there was a demand for making new noses owing to the practice of cutting-off noses of adulterers mostly women.
Source: The Early History of Surgery by W.J. Bishop
Source: The Early History of Surgery by W.J. Bishop
According to freewomenwriters.org/2018/03/06/nos…, in the Old Testament a curse spoken upon the Oholibah a lustful Egyptian prostitute, mentions God’s threat to “direct my anger towards you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears..” [Ezekiel 23:25]
The book ‘Bitten: true medical stories of bites and stings’ also provides some explanation of this brutal custom.
"Perhaps when a woman bites off her husband’s nose, she is symbolically castrating him, and when a husband bites off his wife’s nose, he is castrating her lover."
"Perhaps when a woman bites off her husband’s nose, she is symbolically castrating him, and when a husband bites off his wife’s nose, he is castrating her lover."
I don't have stats on violence related to cutting off women noses, but this very tiny sample has some relevance to the topic in discussion.
Of 95 bites, 12 were related to nose of which 9 were women and 3 men. Note the biter, in most of these cases, was an 'angry spouse'.
Of 95 bites, 12 were related to nose of which 9 were women and 3 men. Note the biter, in most of these cases, was an 'angry spouse'.
Cutting off noses isn't limited to bites - sharp tools are also used to cut off noses as well. But there is one thing common in biting off noses & chopping it off with any tool and that is... that the executioner is ALWAYS A SPOUSE!
By the way, have you heard of:
1. “cutting the nose to spite the face”
2. “Naak Katwana”, Urdu and Hindi
3. “Bini mara Boridi” Persian
4. “Poza de Prekra” in Pashto.
All point to the act of cutting one’s nose to bring shame.
1. “cutting the nose to spite the face”
2. “Naak Katwana”, Urdu and Hindi
3. “Bini mara Boridi” Persian
4. “Poza de Prekra” in Pashto.
All point to the act of cutting one’s nose to bring shame.
On a loosely relevant note, Deepika Padukone was recently threatened that her nose would be chopped off for her role in an n Indian movie.
In colonial India, there was a missionary doctor T. L. Pennell who spent years (1895-1908) in the then NWFP (in Bannu in particular). He also mentioned an interesting story that once a man brought his wife to him to reconstruct her nose that he had cut off on the suspicion of
adultery. Dr. Pennell told him that it would cost him Rs. 30 to reconstruct the nose. The man replied that he could get a new wife for Rs. 80. However, Dr. Penell says that he was convinced to 'repair' the nose of his wife rather to 'buy' a new wife.
This particular story was as much highlighted in the colonial and western press as much was the story of Bi Bi Ayesha, an Afghan girl from Kandahar, pictured in TIME magzine above. Bibi Ayesha's in-laws cut off her nose and ears as punishment for fleeing an abusive marriage.
Have you seen the poster in the tweet below? Can you spot the words women, slut, nose, ring? What do you make of it?
Why would women write such a poster? Is it a protest to systematic oppression with roots in history or something else? Please answer.
Why would women write such a poster? Is it a protest to systematic oppression with roots in history or something else? Please answer.
"One of the driving forces behind this behavior in Kiribati culture is a powerful sexual jealousy known as KOKO —'a murdering thing'."
