He Doesn't Even Notice Me! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lip Plates

These tribes, as well as many others, use lip plates or lip plugs. They can be quite large. In the Musi and Surma culture a young woman's bottom lip is pierced by a female family member to indicate that she is of marriageable age. The original incision is 1-to 2 cm in length.

A wooden plug is inserted. After the piercing has healed a slightly large plug is inserted. After the lip piercing has stretched to about four cm, a round clay plate is inserted. Each woman fashions her own clay lip plates in increasing sizes, and decorates each with some kind of ornamentation.

The final results can result in the wearing of a plate of over 20 cm. Sometimes the wearing of this type of plate is accompanied by removal of 2-4 of the bottom teeth. Lip plates and the resulting facial scarring meant many slave traders found these women unsuitable for sale to the North American slave market.

Answer: Azuki

Azuki is a red bean, which is ground and then made into a paste by mixing it with a small amount of warm water. This mixture is then used as a facial scrub.

Answer: Cleopatra

The Dead Sea has one of the highest concentrations of calcium, magnesium, bromide, potassium and sulfate in the water makeup. There are over 21 different minerals found which aid in the soothing of eczema, psoriasis, aching joints and fluid retention. It is strongly advised that no one should shave their legs prior to entering the Dead Sea.

Answer: China

Chinese foot-binding is a centuries old practice that continued up until the early 20th century. It involved breaking the arches and toes of a young girl's feet and then binding them tightly with strips of fabric. This practice was usually seen in the socially elite class of society.

This long tortuous practice usually rendered the female unable to walk without assistance. The desired effect was a foot that was 3-3 1/2 inches long. The practice was banned by the Chinese government in 1912 but is believed to have continued in isolated areas up until World War II.

Answer: Lighter skin

Mercury has been used for skin lightening well into the 20th century. Long term effects include facial deformation, blindness, memory impairment, neurological impairment and even death. Ironically, the use of mercury can lead to a permanent darkening of the skin.

Answer: The shoulders are pushed down not the neck lengthened

There are many myths that surround the wearing of neck rings. Among these are the three incorrect answers. A female will not die if her rings are taken off, as they occasionally are so that the neck and rings can be cleaned. The rings are usually made of brass not gold.

The first ring is usually put on when the female is about three to five years old. What IS true is that the shoulders, ribs and the collarbones are pushed down, rather than the neck being drastically lengthened. This deliberate deformation causes the illusion of the long neck. Tourism has been blamed for the practice continuing until well past the beginning of the 21st century.

Answer: Corset

The wearing of tightly laced corsets has been known to break ribs, cause organ displacement and cause respiratory problems. Corsets were also known to cause miscarriages and death during labor. A tiny "wasp waist" was thought to be necessary amongst the socially elite females looking to catch a husband.

Answer: Berber

The Berber people have inhabited areas of Morocco and Tunisia for centuries. The women of the tribe would sport facial tattoos that often had erotic connotations in an effort to attract a mate. Magical tattoos that protected the female were applied at a very young age and were believed to keep the child healthy.

A commonly seen tattoo was that of a palm tree called a siyala. It was tattooed on the front of the chin and was a representation of fertility and womanhood. While this practice has largely died out it was still being practiced in the rural areas at the turn of the 21st century.

Answer: Animal placentas

The practice of adding placenta to shampoo and other cosmetics originated in the 1940s, before the advent of the FDA and other regulatory agencies. While the practice is believed to have started in southern Italy, most Western countries added placenta to shampoos and other beauty products by the 1950s.

Answer: Scarification

While all of these things have been done in the name of beauty, the correct answer is scarification. This is when elaborate (usually) designs are carved or branded into the skin with the intention of making permanent scars for body decoration. Sometimes ink is rubbed into the raw wound to add color.

This practice was often found on peoples who skin was naturally darker and on whom tattoos did not show up as well. Scarification of the torso, front and back, arms, legs, and even the face have been practiced in various cultures at various times in history.

This practice was most prominent in Africa and parts of Oceania.