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 sari or choli 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.
In some cultures, exposure of the midriff is socially discouraged or even banned, and the West has historically been resistant to midriff-baring styles. On the other hand, it has always been a fashion in Indian women attire. Indian women and especially from Southern India have traditionally worn saris that bares the midriff. 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.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.Due to this the midriff is set to be left bare in a sari.Other Indian communities that take midriff in their stride include the Rajasthanis and Gujaratis, whose women leave the midriff exposed while wearing short cholis with traditional gypsy skirts. However, these women cover their heads with a chador 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.In spite of it,some Indian philosophers gave opposition to exposing midriff in saris.They considered it to be a symbol of adultery.
In Western culture, exposure of the female midriff and navel was widely brought into everyday women's fashion in the 1960s' sexual revolution and later with the popularity of halter and tube tops in the 1970s. The popularity of the bare midriff continued well into the late 1990s. At the same time, navel piercing gradually became more common among young women, raising the popularity of short shirts that expose them, as well as stomach/navel tattoos.
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. However, in recent years shirts exposing the male midriff have been associated with homosexuality and effeminacy. 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.
Category:Abdomen Category:Human appearance
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