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Comment by devchix | Hacker News Reader

This is amazing in that one would endure pain and disfigurement to advertise social standing, but I guess I speak from a time where there are other ways to display class standing. Dueling fell out of favors in the French aristocracy because ... wait for it ... the lower and middle class started to duel in emulation of the upper class. Although in the US, I read that it declined because it became barely concealed cover for extra-judicial killing.

Now I'm on a train of thought that wonders what the customary analogous marker of status for women would be. That is, they all seem to be external (jewelry, ballgowns, high-status relatives) and not marked on the body.

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Modern people suffer “pain and disfigurement” in other ways to display their status, high or low. Piercings, tattoos, branding, smoking, drinking, tight shoes, tanning, etc. We still do terrible things to our bodies for style. That never stopped.

> This is amazing in that one would endure pain and disfigurement to advertise social standing, but I guess I speak from a time where there are other ways to display class standing.

Yes, in our times people use tattoos, piercings, etc. Doesn't seem that different.

In China, foot binding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding) was a status symbol (and a lot more cruel than dueling scars)

I thought the Kayan practice of wearing lots of brass coils around the neck also was a status symbol, but Wikipedia doesn’t mention it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayan_people_(Myanmar) )

Not having a tan (shows you don’t have to work in the fields) also was a status symbol at some time. Then, it became having a tan in early spring (shows you’re well enough of to go on a skiing holiday) or winter (shows you also can go on holiday in autumn).

Nowadays, having a tan year round again can again show lack of status (uses a tanning bed because of lack of funds to go on holiday)

I guess obvious (but not too obvious) use of aesthetic surgery or Botox served as a status symbol at some time, too, but here, too, that signal is confusing nowadays.

> the lower and middle class started to duel in emulation of the upper class

isn't that a common effect, e.g. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/26/394339284/ho...

> customary analogous marker of status for women would be.

Perhaps speaking numerous languages, playing the Piano, dancing/ballet etc.?

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