- Midriff
-
Clothing showing midriff
Midriff is a particular term to denominate the section of the human body between the thorax/chest and the pelvis/hips. It is used (1) as a genteel avoidance of synonymous belly (with its primary external physical feature, the navel); (2) as a synonym for waist; and (3) as a name for the area around (yet mainly below) the diaphragm (particularly including the stomach region).
The midriff is exposed when wearing a crop top or bikini. The cholis worn by Indian women also exposes a thin section of midriff, usually 3 to 4 inches, though the garment is not known for having sexual connotations and is a mark of traditional modesty.
The Eastern art of belly dancing places the female midriff on center stage. With proper dance instruction and physical conditioning, the midriff is capable of a wide range of physical movements. Belly dancers such as the tribal Rachel Brice and pop singer Shakira are well known examples of this muscular midriff control.
Contents
Etymology
"Midriff" is an old term in the English language, coming into use before 1000 AD.[1] In Old English it was written as "midhrif", with the old word "hrif" literally meaning stomach;[2] in Middle English is was "mydryf".[1] The word fell into obsolescence after the 18th century, until it was revived in 1941 by the fashion industry,[2] partly to avoid use of the word "belly" which many women considered undesirable in reference to their bodies, as it has connotations of obesity.[3]
Culture and history
A woman exposes her midriff in a rolled up and tied shirt.In some cultures, exposure of the midriff is socially discouraged or even banned, and the Western culture has historically been resistant to midriff-baring styles. However, exposure of the female midriff and navel was widely brought into everyday Western women's fashion in the 1960s' sexual revolution and later with the popularity of halters, tube tops and crop tops in the 1970s. The popularity of the bare midriff continued well due to low-rise fashion which started in the early 1990s when the British magazine The Face in its March 1993 issue cover featured Kate Moss in low-rise jeans.[4] At the same time,the wide acceptance of navel display in Western societies, navel piercing [5] & navel tattoos [6] have become more common among young women. This raised the popularity of crop tops that expose the midriff & navel.[7]
For a period during the 1980s, bare midriffs were in style for men, with several manufacturers producing t-shirts that ended above the navel, mainly for athletic purposes. It was also a style associated with the punk subculture. Some would even make their own t-shirts into a midriff by cutting the bottom with scissors. Through the late 80s, it became a style to have larger size shirts and sweatshirts made into midriffs as well as cutting the sleeves to match with the style. In general, men in Western cultures now expose the midriff only when shirtless.
In Beijing, where the hot weather can be harsh, men commonly roll up their shirts, exposing their midriff and navel. This is done purely to relieve themselves of the heat, as it is frowned upon for them to completely remove their shirts. However, women in Beijing usually do not do this.[8]
Indian Culture
On the other hand, baring the midriff has always been a fashion in Indian women attire.[9] Indian women have traditionally worn saris that bares the midriff,especially South Indian women.[10][11] One of the reasons can be that in ancient Indian tradition,the navel of the God Vishnu the Protector is considered to be the center of the universe and the source of life.[12] From his navel a new world of the future emerges. This has been depicted in many ancient Indian sculptures as a lotus emerging from the navel on which God Brahma the Creator is seated.[13][14] Due to this the midriff is set to be left bare in a sari.In modern fashion trends too,the sari is considered to be the classiest midriff revealer.[15] By the Indian Physiognomy of a women's body,when the waist of a lady is fat, it indicates her loose character. A waist that is narrow, well formed, not too small nor very large or fleshy,smooth and hairless, is the sign of good luck. If the waist is bent, big, flabby, hairy, rough and crooked, then the lady will be wicked, shrewd and unfortunate. Short, soft belly with veins visible is a sign that woman is sweet and passionate.Hair on the waist indicates an unfortunate woman with a loose character.[16]
Other Indian communities that take midriff in their stride include the women from Rajasthan who leave the midriff exposed while wearing Ghagra Cholis.[17] However, these women often cover their heads with a Dupatta[18] and even cover their faces in front of strangers, which enforces the belief that midriff-baring in India has a symbolic, almost mystical, association with birth and life and that the display is meant to emphasise the centrality of nature in the nurture role.[19] In spite of it,some Indian philosophers gave opposition to exposing midriff in saris. They considered it to be a symbol of adultery.[20] The only ornament accepted by the Hindu culture that can be worn in the midriff region are the waist chains. They are considered to be a part of bridal jewellery.[21]
Due to modern fashion trends, along with saris, the midriff-revealing ghaghra cholis are also popular. Designer Manish Malhotra's Fashion Week collections regularly highlight low waisted ghaghras accompanied by short cholis. Such ghagra cholis are more commonly worn by the Bollywood celebrities in films as well as in real life. For example,actress Malaika Arora Khan featured in midriff revealing ghagra choli without dupatta for the hit songs "Chaiyya Chaiyya" in Dil Se (1998)[22] and "Munni Badnam" in Dabangg (2010).[23] Actress Priyanka Chopra featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by designer Ritu Kumar on the opening show of the HDIL India Couture Week 2008 held in Mumbai.[24][25][26] At the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2011, she featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by Neeta Lulla.[27]Recently,Actress Amisha Patel walked the ramp in a low rise green Ghagra Choli designed by Rocky S at Aamby Valley City India Bridal Week 2011.[28][29]
As a marketing demographic
According to the PBS Frontline documentary, "The Merchants of Cool",[30] "midriff" is a marketing classification for an American teenage female who is characterized as prematurely adult and consumed by appearances.
In schools
Many American secondary schools have dress codes dating back to the 1970s against attire that leaves the midriff exposed. An example of a test that some schools apply is to have the student raise her arms if it is suspected that her shirt will expose her midriff. Although more tolerated with younger girls, female students can be disciplined for exposing their navels on school campuses. As an example, the dress code of the Sherman Independent School District in Texas requires that "there must be no exposure of the midriff area or undergarments. The midriff area must not be seen while bending over, while standing, raising arms, and stretching."[31] The enforcement of such rules depends on the school itself, and varies widely. At schools with more relaxed or unenforced dress codes it is not uncommon to see girls with some midriff showing or exposed lower back midriff while sitting in class.
External links
Notes
- ^ a b "Midriff", Dictionary.com
- ^ a b "Midriff, the Online Etymology Dictionary
- ^ "Belly" was also a word which was forbidden to be used in films by the censors of the Hays Office. In the 1933 film 42nd Street, for instance, in the song Shuffle Off to Buffalo, Una Merkel is about to sing the lyric "with a shotgun at his belly", but stops after the "B" of "belly" and sings "tummy" instead.
- ^ "Navel Mauvers". New York Magazine. 10 May 1993. p. 26. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ziUAAAAAMBAJ&dq=New+York+Magazine%E2%80%8E+Navel&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ Designing Clothes - Culture and Organization of the Fashion Industry - Veronica Manlow
- ^ Rhetorics of display - Lawrence J. Prelli
- ^ Cropped tops = midriff mania = abs-olutely erotic - ESTHER GROSS KREMER
- ^ The curious case of Beijing belly button - China Daily
- ^ Miller, Daniel & Banerjee, Mukulika; (2004) "The Sari", Lustre press / Roli books;
- ^ Alkazi, Roshan (1983) "Ancient Indian costume", Art Heritage;
- ^ Ghurye (1951) "Indian costume", Popular book depot (Bombay)
- ^ Principles of composition in Hindu sculpture: cave temple period - Alice Boner.
- ^ Indian Sculpture: Circa 500 B.C.-A.D. 700 - Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pratapaditya Pal.
- ^ Indian Sculpture: 700-1800 - Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pratapaditya Pal.
- ^ Rise of the Navel – Bollywood navel fashion has led to re-emergence of sari. India Today.
- ^ Physiognomy Of Women
- ^ Social Science a Textbook in History for Class IX as per New Syllabus - FK Publications
- ^ India - R.I.C. Publications
- ^ Beck, Brenda. (1976) The Symbolic Merger of Body, Space, and Cosmos in Hindu Tamil Nadu. Contributions to Indian Sociology 10(2): 213-43.
- ^ Sarvajna: the omniscient poet of Karnataka - Basavaraj Naikar.
- ^ Indianapolis Monthly - Jun 2004
- ^ Top 10 Navels in Cinema - India Today
- ^ Rise of the Navel 'Bollywood navel fashion has led to re-emergence of sari' - India Today
- ^ Priyanka's fashionable walk - movies.ndtv.com
- ^ HDIL India Couture Week - hindustantimes.com
- ^ Priyanka dresses up for India Couture Week - IBNLive
- ^ Priyanka Chopra: Luscious in Lace at Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2011 - sawfnews.com
- ^ Amisha Patel In Green Lehenga Choli
- ^ Ameesha Patel walks for Rocky S at Aamby Valley City India Bridal Week 2011 - BollywoodHungama.com
- ^ PBS: The Merchants of Cool
- ^ "Sherman High School Dress Code". http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_48025.shtml.
Categories:- Abdomen
- Human appearance
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
