ASSIGNMENT OF

FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH
ON SOCIAL TABOOS

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 Submitted to:
SIR HUMAYUN ADIL
HAMEED

Submitted by: Roll#

 M. SHOAIB Mi16BBA003
 HAFIZ USAMA ZAHID Mi16BBA044
 OSAMA ZIRK Mi16BBA050
 M.MUSTAJAB Mi16BBA052
 M.ABUBAKAR AFZAL Mi16BBA054
 OSAMA IJAZ Mi15BBA006
 KHAWAJA IRFAN Mi15BBA012

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 CONTENTS

Introduction of social taboos 05

Definition of social taboos 06
Etymology 06
Nature of taboos 07
Examples 08
Functions 10
Modernity 11
Types of taboos 12
Religious taboos 12
Sexual taboos 12
Food taboos 12
Cannibalism 13
Incest 14
Abnormal sexual relationships 14
Murder 14
Suicide 15
Corpses 15
Eating carnivorous animals 16
Foods and drinks 16
Inter-racial and inter-religion marriages 16

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Bodily functions 17
Social taboos that we need to smash right now 17
Sex 18
Menstruation 18
Live-in relationships 19
Single parent 19
Divorce and second marriage 20
Homosexuality 21
Social taboos in Pakistan 21
Dowry taboos 21
Mental health 22
Sexual violence 23
Abuse 24
The Trans community 24
Honor killing 25
Child marriage 26
Divorce 26
Watta satta 27
Conclusion 28

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INTRODUCTION OF SOCIAL
TABOOS:
A taboo is a vehement prohibition of an action based on the
belief that such behavior is either too sacred or
too accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake. Such
prohibitions are present in virtually all societies. The word has
been somewhat expanded in the social sciences to strong
prohibitions relating to any area of human activity or custom
that is sacred or forbidden based on moral judgment and
religious beliefs. Breaking a taboo" is usually considered
objectionable by society in general, not merely a subset of a
culture.

Taboos often remain in effect after the original reason behind

them has expired. Study of taboos by anthropologists has led
to deeper understanding of the development of different
societies, and the similarities among cultures spread

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throughout the world. Even if the actual taboos are not
universal, the concept of prohibiting particular acts is,
indicating that humankind as a whole aspires to goodness.

DEFINITION OF SOCIAL TABOOS:

1) A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a
particular practice or forbidding association with a
particular person, place, or thing.
2) A taboo is a strong social prohibition or ban relating to any
area of human activity or social custom declared
as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually
considered objectionable or abhorrent by society.

ETYMOLOGY:
The term "taboo" comes from
the Tongan tapu or Fijian tabu ("prohibited", "disallowed",
"forbidden"), related among others to
the Maori tapu, Hawaiiankapu, Malagasy fady. Its English use
dates to 1777 when the British explorer James
Cook visited Tonga, and referred to the Tongans' use of the
term "taboo" for "anything is forbidden to be eaten, or made
use of". He wrote:
Not one of them would sit down, or eat a bit of anything.... On
expressing my surprise at this, they were all taboo, as they
said; which word has a very comprehensive meaning; but, in
general, signifies that a thing is forbidden.
The term was translated to him as "consecrated, inviolable,
forbidden, unclean or cursed". Tabu itself has been

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derived from alleged Tongan morphemes ta ("mark")
and bu ("especially"), but this may be a folk etymology (note
that Tongan does not actually have a phoneme /b/), and tapu is
usually treated as a unitary, non-compound word inherited
from Proto-Polynesian *tapu, in turn inherited from Proto-
Oceanic *tabu, with the reconstructed meaning "sacred,
forbidden". In its current use on Tonga, the word tapu means
"sacred" or "holy", often in the sense of being restricted or
protected by custom or law. On the main island, the word is
often appended to the end of "Tonga" as Tongatapu, here
meaning "Sacred South" rather than "Forbidden South".

NATURE OF TABOOS:
The idea of a universal taboo is questionable, but some (such
as the cannibalism, incest taboos, and genocide) occur in the
majority of societies. Taboos can include dietary restrictions,
restrictions on sexual activities and relationships, restrictions
of bodily functions, restrictions on the state of genitalia such
as circumcision, exposure of body parts, nudity, and
restrictions on the use of offensive language. Taboos often
extend to cover discussion of taboo topics. This can result in
taboo deformation (euphemism) or replacement of taboo
words.
Taboos may serve many functions, and often remain in effect
after the original reason behind them has expired. Some have
argued that taboos therefore reveal the history of societies
when other records are lacking. Researchers such as James
Frazer, who compiled the comprehensive documentation of
cultural beliefs and practices around the world in his 1890
publication The Golden Bough, and Marvin Harris, a leading
figure in cultural materialism, proposed explanations of
taboos as a consequence of the ecologic and economic

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conditions of their societies.

Sigmund Freud provided an analysis of taboo behaviors,

highlighting strong unconscious motivations driving such
prohibitions. In this system, described in his collections of
essays Totem and Taboo, Freud postulated a link between
forbidden behaviors and the sanctification of objects to certain
kinship groups. Freud also stated that the only two "universal"
taboos are that of incest and patricide, which formed the
eventual basis of modern society.
EXAMPLES
Sigmund Freud posited that incest and patricide were the only
two universal taboos and formed the basis of civilization.
However, although cannibalism, in-group murder,
and incest are taboo in the majority of societies, marriages
between brothers and sisters occurred in Roman Egypt.
Modern Western societies, however, do not condone such
relationships. These familial sexual activities are criminalized,
even if all parties are consenting adults. Through an analysis
of the language surrounding these laws, it can be seen how the
policy makers, and society as a whole, find these acts to be
immoral. Common taboos involve restrictions or ritual
regulation of killing and hunting; sex and sexual

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relationships
(primarily incest, necrophilia, miscegenation, adultery, fornica
tion, pedophilia, ho
mosexuality, voyeu
rism, bestiality,
and masturbation, p
araphilia, circumcis
ion, heterosexuality
, transgression, sex
uality ecc...)
reproduction
(abortion, infanticid
e); the dead and
their graves; as well
as food and dining (primarily cannibalism and dietary
laws such as vegetarianism, kashrut, and halal) or religious
(treif and haram). In Madagascar, a strong code of taboos,
known as fady, constantly change and are formed from new
experiences. Each region, village or tribe may have its
own fady.
Taboos often extend to cover discussion of taboo topics such
as profanity, resulting in euphemisms and replacement
of taboo words.
The word "taboo" gained popularity at times, with some
scholars looking for ways to apply it where other English
words had previously been applied. For example, J. M. Powis
Smith, in his "The American Bible" (editor's preface 1927),
used "taboo" occasionally in relation to
Israel's Tabernacle and ceremonial laws, including Exodus
30:36, 29:37; Numbers 16:37,38; Deuteronomy 22:9, Isaiah
65:5, Ezekiel 44:19 and 46:20.

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Albert Schweitzer wrote a chapter about taboos of the people
of Gabon. As an example, it was considered a misfortune for
twins to be born, and they would be subject to many rules not
incumbent on other people.
Among the Guaycurus of Paraguay, when a death had taken
place, the chief used to change the name of every member of
the tribe; and from that moment everybody remembered his
new name just as if he had borne it all his life.
After a Yolngu man named Bitjingu died, the
word bithiwul "no; nothing" was avoided.[6] In its place,
a synonym or a loanword from another language would be
used for a certain period, after which the original word could
be used again; but in some cases the replacement word would
continue to be used.
In some Australian Aboriginal culture the dead are not
referred to by their name directly as a mark of respect.
In Pitjantjatjara, for instance, it is common to refer to a
recently deceased person as 'kunmanara', which means "what's
his name". Often, the person's last name can still be used. The
avoidance period may last anywhere from 12 months to
several years, depending on how important or famous the
person was. The person can still be referred to in a roundabout
way, such as "that old lady" or by generic skin type but not by
first name. Other reasons may include not making mockery of
that person and keeping respect with regard to them.
FUNCTION:
Communist and materialist theorists have argued that taboos
can be used to reveal the histories of societies when other
records are lacking. Marvin Harris particularly endeavored to
explain taboos as a consequence of ecologic and economic
conditions.[24]

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MODERNITY:
Some argue that contemporary multicultural societies have
taboos against tribalism (for
example, ethnocentrism and nationalism)
and prejudices (racism, sexism, religious
extremism, specialism).
Changing social customs and standards also create new
taboos, such as bans on slavery; extension of
the pedophilia taboo to ephebophilia; prohibitions
on alcohol, tobacco, or psycho pharmaceutical consumption
(particularly among pregnant women); and the employment
of politically correct euphemisms – at times
quite unsuccessfully – to mitigate various alleged forms of
discrimination.
Incest itself has been pulled both ways, with some seeking to
normalize consensual adult relationships regardless of the
degree of kinship (notably in Europe) and others expanding
the degrees of prohibited contact (notably in the United
States).
In medicine, professionals who practice in ethical and moral
grey areas, or fields subject to social stigma such as late
termination of pregnancy, may refrain from public discussion
of their practice. Among other reasons, this taboo may come
from concern that comments may be taken out of the
appropriate context and used to make ill-informed policy
decisions.

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TYPES OF SOCAIL TABOO:

RELIGIOUS TABOOS:

Religions have their own set of taboos. Offending the god or

gods is one of the biggest ones but there are also a variety of
other taboos that impact daily actives.

SEXUAL TABOOS:

Some cultures and religions consider these to be taboos.

Homosexuality, incest and bestiality are inherently taboo for
those literally following the Christian Bible. Catholics believe
that if you want to become a priest, nun or monk that sex is a
taboo.

FOOD TABOOS :

Jewish and Muslims believe that some food such as pork and
shellfish are taboos because they are seen as unclean. This is
what defines ‘kosher and halal’. Eating beef is considered
taboo in hindu because they believe that the animal it

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comes from is sacred. They consider some foods to be very
spiritually.

CANNIBALISM:
Cannibalism, no doubt, is the number one taboo for human
beings and this would be the last thing on earth that most
human beings will do in order to survive. Cannibalism though
exists in biological world, is not a common phenomenon as it
threatens the existence of species.

Most human societies have strong taboos against dealing with

human corpses, let alone eating flesh from them.
Nevertheless, cannibalism has been observed among humans
in various situations like famine, war, insanity and religious
ceremonies. Currently the only groups practicing cannibalism
are Korowai tribe of south-east Papua and Aghoris of India.

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INCEST:
Incest is one of the most common taboos across cultures.
Among incestuous relationships, parent-
child and sibling-sibling unions are the
most abhorred ones. Though incest
occurred among many cultures
sporadically throughout history, modern
age has seen the steep decline of
formally practiced incest. Many
countries also legally prohibit incest,
though some countries like Israel, China, Russia, France and
Turkey do not have any legal prohibition against consensual
incest. Incest, however, amounts to inbreeding and the
resulting offspring are likely to suffer from congenital birth
defects. In nature, animals tend to avoid inbreeding if
alternatives are available.

ABNORMAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Human beings consider heterosexual relationships excluding
incest as normal. All other sexual preferences and practices
are considered abnormal and have strong taboos attached to
them. Examples include homosexuality, bestiality, pedophilia,
necrophilia and masturbation. Many of the abnormal sexual
acts are both socially and legally prohibited.

MURDER:
Murdering another human being is considered an extreme act
unless it is in war or in self-defense. The resulting anarchy
from tolerating individual cases of murders has forced society
to consider murder as a prohibited act. However, despite

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social and legal prohibitions against murder, they do occur
rather regularly due to various reasons.

SUICIDE:
The will to live is the strongest desire in any living being.
Hence, suicide frequently counts as a taboo as it surpasses
even the strongest desire to take its place. It is also considered
a religious taboo as almost all the religions have prohibited it.
It is often believed in many religions that the soul of a suicide
victim will not find peace and is denied the gates of heaven.
Some religions also prohibit suicide as they consider human
life to be sacred and a gift from God, not to be tempered with.
Suicide is also a legal crime in many jurisdictions.

CORPSES:
Human beings have never been comfortable with dead bodies.
Dead bodies are generally disposed of in distant places after
religious ceremonies. Touching or being in contact with
human corpse is often considered unclean and plain
unacceptable.

Tempering with graves or handling decomposing

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corpses is also frowned upon. Even medical pathologists
conducting autopsies on dead bodies are not seen as normal
and the job is often considered socially unacceptable. Some
religious groups or ethnic groups even oppose autopsy on the
ground that the procedure will violate the body.

EATING CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS:

Though meat-eating is a fairly common practice amongst
human beings, the meat is usually sourced from vegetarian
animals. Flesh of carnivorous animals is often not consumed
in many parts of the world. There is a strong social taboo
against eating meat of carnivorous animals. Exceptions
include bear, fox, dog, crocodile, shark, most fish and duck.

FOODS AND DRINKS:

Many types of foods and drinks are considered taboo and not
eaten based on geography, region, religion, ethnicity, weather
and culture. Religious laws often control the criteria which
qualifies a food as taboo. Examples are Jewish dietary law
(Kashrut), Islamic dietary law (Halal), Hindu dietary law and
Jain dietary law. While beef is prohibited for Hindus, pork is
prohibited for Jews and Muslims. On the other hand, Jains are
prohibited from eating any meat and even some plants. Most
religions prohibit from eating carrion and blood. Muslims are
prohibited from consuming alcohol, in any form, while Sikhs
are prohibited from smoking.

INTER-RACIAL AND INTER-RELIGION

MARRIAGES:
For many years, inter-racial or inter-ethnic marriages have
been considered taboo. While absence of contact

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originated the taboo in the first place, fear of loss of culture
and identity still holds the taboo. Such marriages are often
considered to bring in adjustment problems due to different
social values and cultural practices. Inter-religion marriage
also is opposed on the same grounds. However, the biggest
opposition to inter-religion marriage comes from the fear of
inter-mingling of faith and loss of identity.

BODILY FUNCTIONS:
Ordinary bodily functions like menstruation, defecation,
urination and flatulence are considered social taboos. People
generally do not discuss about these bodily functions. Most
people find the sight, smell and even mention of these
disgusting. Body functions such as these are considered to be
private and are not to be performed in front of other people.
Accidental flatulence, though found to be socially
unacceptable, is usually accepted and laughed off in informal
gatherings.

SOCIAL TABOOS THAT WE NEED TO

SMASH RIGHT NOW:
India is a land where Aryabhatta invented zero and
people created social taboos. There are lots of things in our
society that are frowned upon because of our narrow-
mindedness and intolerance. Breaking a taboo in our society is
like committing a social suicide. Outcasts have always been
treated with sheer criticism in our society. The society
ostracizes what is unorthodox and different. Different doesn’t
mean wrong. While we eagerly wait for achhe din, here are

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social taboos that need to be extirpated which are decelerating
the growth of country:

SEX:

We live in a society where kissing is not allowed in the

country, but pissing is. Indulging in sexual activities is
like committing an offence. Sex is not an offence; it is a
celebration of human touch. Our bodies need sex just as
we need food and water. Having no sex education is the
main reason why rapes occur in our society. Safe sex
requires only two C’s; condom and consent. As long as
there are these two things involved, there is nothing
wrong about it.

MENSTRUATION:

Women need to stop using pseudonyms for their

monthly affair and stop being shy or mortified while
shopping for
sanitary
pads.
Chemists
need to stop
wrapping the
sanitary pads
in numerous
layers of
wrappers; it is not an item of untouchability. Men
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need to stop acting like they know nothing about
periods when they do. Society needs to stop not letting
women enter temples. Everybody just needs to stop
treating menstruation as disgust. It is just a healthy
bodily function. Get along with it.

LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIPS:

It is okay to lose your virginity to a stranger on the first

night of your wedding, but it’s not okay to live with the
person you love unless you are married. We Indians
need to understand that marriage is not the foundation
of a relationship. Some of us just want to have a
serious, meaningful relationship which is not bound by
the institution of marriage. Or, maybe some of us want
to take it slow, one step at a time.

SINGLE PARENT:

Being a single parent is not an easy job. One has to

perform the roles of both parents in child’s life. In most
cases, becoming a single parent is circumstantial. While
in few cases, there are people who choose parenthood
over companionship. This may be exceptional but not
wrong.

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 Looking
after own child single-handedly should be
acknowledged and not criticized.

DIVORCE AND SECOND MARRIAGE:

Not all marriages are successful. Sometimes, things

don’t work out between two people. Therefore, it is
wise to end the relationship instead of dragging it and
making each other’s life miserable. Divorce is not a
failure as society thinks of it. It’s a peaceful termination
of an already dead relationship. While some couples get
separated by mutual consent, some couples are parted
by inevitable death. Loved ones are irreplaceable, but it
is also okay to move on. Second marriage is like a fresh
start, giving another shot at love and companionship.
Life is not easy living alone. But the society doesn’t get
it.

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HOMOSEXUALITY:

So what if people of same sexes love each other. People can

have different sexual orientations and it is perfectly normal. It
is high time we treat homosexuality with acceptance so that
people can come out and stop living their lives as a secret.
Straight, gay or bisexual; at the end of the day, we are all
humans.

The only way to abolish social taboos is when we become

tolerant and pragmatic. These taboos are irrational and
incoherent. We are transforming our lifestyle into a western
mindset. Why not change our thinking then?

SOCIAL TABOOS IN PAKISTAN:

DOWRY TABOO:
Pakistan is a male dominant society and to fulfill the religious
obligation “Marriage”, the burden is bear more of the woman
family. Marriage strengthens the relation not just to two
people but between two families. However, dowry is a
cultural taboo which weakens the relationship. It is a
compensation given by the Bride’s parents to the Groom
family. It can be
in any form cash, furniture, household items or vehicle.

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It is common, especially in the modern era. There are many
NGO`s who are taking radical steps to eliminate this exercise.
They are working to protect the women rights and fighting
against Dowry system. The most unethical and dreadful action
is dowry. It is common against uneducated and illiterate
people but still you will observe the educated people fulfilling
it with pride.
According to the 1999 report, the cases of burning bride
reached to 60 in 5 years. Dowry has gained the status and
symbol in our society.

MENTAL HEALTH:

Mental illnesses have long been avoided in our society.

They’re wrongly associated with madness, regardless of how
small or severe the illness might be. The way our society sees
it, a man showing signs of depression or anxiety is

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termed to be weak or feminine (since we’re all a bunch of
sexists, too) and a woman seeking medical help for the same
is considered
a) unfit for marriage (because obviously, women are being
prepped like goats for slaughter and this is all they’re good
for, enforcing the aforementioned sexism)
b) Straight up psychotic or
c) Seeking attention
A society where someone trying to seek therapy is
termed pagal, ridiculed and made a joke of is a society that
urgently requires a broader perspective.
Mental health is directly linked to one’s well being and it’s
about damn time that we give it the importance it deserves.
And, to anyone who has depression, anxiety or any other
mental illness, stay strong and keep fighting.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE:

We live in a society where a rape victim is still considered to

be the root cause of the incident. They are then silenced by
families because log kya kaheinge. That is, perhaps, one of the
vilest things a family can do. Also, rape victims are never
asking for it. If they were, it wouldn’t be rape. They are called
victims for a reason – they have been wronged. Why, then,
does society push them into the shadows and instill the fear of
what others will say?
The same goes for harassment. A girl, or even guy for that
matter, will be told by the family itself that he or she must
keep the incident under wraps. And then, of course, since we
don’t believe in therapy either, we expect them to magically
heal and become stronger. We don’t let them report it,

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because log are always waiting to gossip. Our justice system
rarely sides with victims either, especially if the perpetrator
has connections. Where does the victim go?
Rape and harassment are real issues. The victims have to live
with mental wounds and bruises. They cannot be shoved at
the back of dimly lit rooms in order to erase the incident itself.

Abuse:
Abuse, in any form, is not okay. As Pakistanis, we’re
accustomed to taking the occasional chappal or hanger
beating from our parents. However, when that abuse leaves
physical and mental scars, that’s where lines need to be
drawn.
Victims of abuse, be it in a marriage or by one’s parent, are
also silenced. This silence, on the victim’s part, roots from
fear of the abuser. As far as families are concerned, they’re
either afraid of being judged by society or fear triggering
further abuse as a reaction to speaking out.
Legally, abuse is often brushed off as andar ka maamla.
Numerous cases go unreported and those that do get reported
are not registered. How is this okay and why do we not talk
about this?

The Trans Community:

Transgender are associated with begging and prostitution – a
stereotype that is reinforced by
the media. Imagine living in a
society where your community
has been disfigured and distorted
to the extent where a large chunk
of people doesn’t

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even consider you human. It is no secret that the trans
community faces every sort of discrimination. However, they
have survived in the midst of our unwelcoming eyes and that,
itself, is inspirational.
HONOR KILLING:

Honor killing is well-known term among the illiterate people

as KARO KARI. It is an act of killing or murder. It is
considered as a good deed to kill a person because of immoral
behavior. The unethical behavior can be a demanding divorce,
refusal to an arranged marriage, being raped, girls education,
flirtatious behavior and marital infidelity or many related
cases.
KARO KARI is a compound word which means KARO as
a black male and KARI a black female. However, if any
woman has been labeled as KARI, then the family members
consider to be authorized to kill the KARI and the co-accused
KARO has to restore the family honors. According to the
report, female are mostly the victims of honor killings.

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CHILD MARRIAGE:

Child marriage is also well known as a term and often referred

as VANI. It is custom cultural traditions in which the young
girls are forcefully get married as a punishment. It is a form of
arranged child marriage which is concluded by the members
of council named as JIRGA. Only the elder males are allowed
to sit in JIRGA. The practice of the cultural child
marriage taboo still continues.

DIVORCE:

Many couples have

to face abusive
married life. The
people of our society
recommend the
woman, especially
wife to cooperative and bear the violence and infidelity

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because of IZZAT. However, there is no such IZZAT in living
a miserable life. Divorcees are looked down upon and are
known as failures. It is reflected as a shameful act and people
judge him/her by character.

WATTA SATTA

WATTA SATTA is also a cultural Taboo which means give-

take. It is very common in Pakistan and less advanced
countries. It is a simultaneous marriage which occurs in the
pair form such as brother- sister pair from two houses. It
involves the pairs of uncle-niece or usually cousin. 90 percent
of WATTA SATTA marriages happen within the same caste
or creed.
Families perform and establish it as a shadow of a mutual
threat. If a husband mistreats his wife, then the brother in
law will take revenge from his wife. It is cited as a
little domestic violence.

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Conclusion:
Taboos are widely agreed upon negative entities that are
shunned and avoided. As peoples' morals and values are
different, so vary the taboos they believe in. Thus, it is hard to
agree on any universal taboos. Genocide, cannibalism,
and incest taboos are considered the only taboos that might
reach the level of universal.
There are taboos in every subject and they vary from culture
to culture. What unites these different ideas is the quest for the
knowledge of right and wrong. This mission links people of
all ideologies in an attempt to better themselves and create a
morally just human race.

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