In defense of self-mutilation.

I have a friend who cuts herself. In my efforts to understand her habit, I find myself understanding a lot more about our social milieu and norms. The practice of self-mutilation is more common among young teenage females than any other demographic group. Some theorists even believe that self-mutilation prevents a few of its practitioners from losing complete control of their lives and behavior. So why is self-mutilation so shocking to parents and teachers? What seems so ethically repugnant about it? An Austenian notion of "sensibility" perhaps?

For the most part, self-mutilation lacks the fearful, secretive aspect which characterized such "abnormal" behavior in a society where social norms proved much less elastic. Film director Maria de Van created In My Skin, detailing her pratices as an acknowledged self-mutilator.For those into cutting, you can even take a quiz to find out what kind of "self-mutilation emotional sequence" you are. The point is that self-mutilation is no longer strange or unusual in a culture where plastic surgery and body jewelry are the norm. If we are to consider self-mutilators "sick", then we must also consider plastic surgery clients and bubble-gum popping teenagers with pierced ears and nostrils as "sick". Being cut, or cutting, with an aesthetic end in mind is no more ethically laudable than being cut, or cutting, with an cognitive end in mind. The result is the same-- a satisfied person.