Glitter - a photo on Flickriver

Glitter

            A Kayan woman sits for an intimate portrait with her gleaming brass neck coil.  Yes they do sleep with it on.  The coils are only taken off a few times a year for hygiene reasons, otherwise it is a permanent fixture of their identity.  The women have said that they feel "ugly" without their coils on.  The origin of the neck coils has been lost in time.  One theory states that it started as a means of protecting women against tiger attacks as these animals always go for the neck.  Whatever the origin, the neck coils have become a symbol not only of beauty but of wealth and status as well.  In an interesting case of cultural homology, the women of the Ndebele people of South Africa also wear neck rings.  

Another interesting side note.  After I posted the first picture of these women several photographers commented that they'd photographed the same woman in Thailand.  Many more people have travelled to Thailand than have been to Myanmar and have seen these women in Thailand and mistakenly think that they're originally from Thailand.  They are native to Myanmar, but many have fled to Thailand due to the decades long conflict with the military regime in the country.  I've also heard people say that many of these women look alike and I would probably have to agree with that.  Same hairstyle, neck coils, and dress.  After a while it gets confusing.

Taken on: December 19, 2023

Tags:

brass rings

ethnic minority

Kayan people

long necks

Myanmar

Padaung women

Southeast Asia

travel photography

travel portrait « less

Groups appears in: • !Art and Photography (seriously18+) INVITE ONLY • FAVORIES

Stats: 4,618 views / 17 comments

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