Khalid Abeer, Quiñonez Carlos
Discipline of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Sociol Health Illn. 2015 Jun;37(5):782-96. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.12238. Epub 2015 Apr 29.
A distinguishing feature of North American society is preoccupation with self-image, as seen in the ritualistic nature of bodily practices aimed at constantly improving the body. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the prevailing fixation with straight, white teeth. While there is an ever-expanding literature on the sociology of body, very little has been written on teeth in this context. Using literature from anthropology, biology, dentistry, sociology and social psychology, this study attempts to answer: (1) Why have straight, white teeth become a beauty ideal in North American society? (2) What is the basis for this ideal? (3) How is this ideal propagated? It demonstrates that dental aesthetic tendencies are biologically, culturally and socially patterned. Concepts from the works of Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault are used to illustrate how straight, white teeth contribute towards reinforcing class differences and how society exercises a disciplinary power on individuals through this ideal. It is concluded that modified teeth are linked to self and identity that are rooted in social structure. Moreover, teeth demonstrate the ways in which class differences are embodied and projected as symbols of social advantage or disadvantage. Implications on professional, public health, sociological and political levels are considered.
北美社会的一个显著特征是对自我形象的过度关注，这在旨在不断改善身体的身体行为的仪式性中可见一斑。这一点在对整齐洁白牙齿的普遍执着上表现得最为明显。虽然关于身体社会学的文献不断增多，但在这一背景下关于牙齿的论述却很少。本研究运用来自人类学、生物学、牙科学、社会学和社会心理学的文献，试图回答以下问题：（1）为什么整齐洁白的牙齿成为北美社会的审美理想？（2）这一理想的依据是什么？（3）这一理想是如何传播的？研究表明，牙齿美学倾向在生物学、文化和社会层面上都有其模式。皮埃尔·布迪厄和米歇尔·福柯著作中的概念被用来阐释整齐洁白的牙齿如何有助于强化阶级差异，以及社会如何通过这一理想对个体行使规训权力。研究得出结论，牙齿的改变与根植于社会结构的自我和身份认同相关联。此外，牙齿展示了阶级差异作为社会优势或劣势的象征是如何被体现和投射出来的。文中还考虑了其在专业、公共卫生、社会学和政治层面的影响。
