The podcast explores how societal standards of cleanliness are often irrational, significantly impacting personal identities and cultural perceptions.
It highlights the historical weaponization of cleanliness against marginalized groups, illustrating how stereotypes perpetuate systemic inequalities.
The discussion emphasizes that concepts of cleanliness are social constructs that dictate acceptable behaviors and cultural norms within communities.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Cleanliness and Kinks
The discussion revolves around societal perceptions of cleanliness and how personal kinks can complicate these perceptions. A gym-goer's kink related to body odors becomes a focal point of controversy, particularly when complaints from other gym members arise due to the intense smell that affects those nearby. The interaction highlights the tension between personal freedom in expressing one’s sexuality and the public’s right to a comfortable shared space. This scenario raises questions about the social norms governing acceptable behavior in public spaces and the potential for cultural misunderstandings to evoke accusations of discrimination.
Historical Context of Cleanliness Standards
The podcast delves into the historical origins of modern cleanliness standards, suggesting that American society may hold the highest and most irrational standards for personal hygiene in history. A scholar's research indicates that Americans use more cleaning products and bathe more frequently than any other culture, which poses the question of why this obsession with cleanliness exists. The suggestion that moral motivations intertwine with physical cleanliness emerges, as it reflects societal values that equate cleanliness with moral purity. This connection illustrates how cultural norms around cleanliness shape perceptions of worth and virtue.
Cultural Disparities in Cleanliness Practices
The conversation addresses cultural differences in cleanliness practices, particularly how geographic and cultural backgrounds influence perspectives on hygiene. A debate arises around the expectation that people should change their clothes after traveling or visiting public spaces, revealing the arbitrariness of cleanliness standards. The discussion of shoes on or off in homes further exemplifies this variability in cleanliness norms, showing how deeply ingrained cultural habits can dictate perceptions of what is considered clean or dirty. This sheds light on the social dynamics that often inform and sometimes reinforce cultural biases regarding cleanliness.
Symbolism of Cleanliness in Society
The podcast discusses how concepts of cleanliness and dirtiness are rooted in cultural symbolism and not necessarily inherent qualities of an object or person. It argues that cleanliness functions as a social construct that distinguishes acceptable behaviors within a society, where order is prized, while disorder is met with disapproval. Theories posited by anthropologist Mary Douglas emphasize that the ideas we associate with dirt stem from a violation of social norms. This perspective illustrates how subjective notions of cleanliness can have significant implications for identity, including how they affect marginalized communities.
The Intersection of Cleanliness and Race
The podcast highlights the racial implications of cleanliness standards, particularly how stereotypes of dirtiness have historically affected marginalized communities. Aspects like the 'Hygiene Olympics' are discussed, illustrating how societal pressures around cleanliness have unique ramifications for Black women and people of color. The conversation also notes the historical context where cleanliness was conflated with economic and cultural status, serving as a means of respectability politics. This dynamic showcases the power of cleanliness cues in forming social hierarchies, reflecting broader societal prejudices and systemic inequalities.
How often should you shower to remain ‘clean’? How many times can you re-wear your jeans before they are considered ‘dirty’? In episode 128 of Overthink, Ellie and David take a look at cleanliness. They get into how humans have turned cleanliness into an art, and maybe even an obsession. Why are we so bothered by dirt? What is dirt, anyways? How are notions of dirtiness and cleanliness even into our symbolic systems, including language and religion? And what is up with TikTok’s obsession with the Clean Girl Aesthetic? As they tackle these questions, your hosts also explore the historical weaponisation of the concept of cleanliness against marginalised groups, such as queer people and people of color. In the bonus, Ellie and David discuss cleanliness as a social construct, the link between it and isolation, and Michel Serres’s ‘excremental theory’ of private property.
Works Discussed: Bruce Bagemihl, Biological Exuberance Dana Berthold, “Tidy Whiteness: A Genealogy of Race, Purity, and Hygiene” L’Oreal Blackett, “In The “Hygiene Olympics” Black Folks Always Win — But Aren’t We Tired?” Mary Douglas, Purity and Danger Virginia Smith, Clean: A History of Personal Hygiene and Purity
