16: Personal Hygeine
As noted in previous chapters, Americans consider the topic of body and breath odors to be too sensitive for discussion, and generally prefer to avoid the awkwardness and embarrassment of suggesting to another person that they give offense. The desire not to be perceived as a bigot or racist makes it even more difficult to approach the topic with a person of another race or ethnicity. Instead, they will simply avoid being in close proximity to people whom they consider to smell offensive.
It's also noted that odors that are too strong, but not inherently offensive, will elicit the same reaction as an unpleasant smell - such as a person who wears too much perfume or aftershave lotion. There is also the increasingly popular notion of allergies, which may be considered by some to be irrational and even fictitious, but are nonetheless taken seriously by those who consider themselves to be inflicted.
The sense of smell is often considered to be primitive, and reactions to aromas are not considered to be a product of logic - people like or dislike certain aromas, with no explanation or even understanding of their preferences. And moreover, preferences are often cultural: people become accustomed to smells, and any unusual smell is perceived negatively.
THE BASICS
American advertising depicts an almost neurotic standard of personal hygiene, and are often criticized as such - but they do represent a level of cleanliness that is ideal, if impractical. The words "clean" and "fresh" are heavily featured, and are qualities Americans consider to be good, and they consider personal hygiene as a method to control offensive odors.
In general, the American standard of personal hygiene is to bathe or shower daily (and more often, after exercising or during warm summer months), using soap and washing one's hair, and to brush with toothpaste and floss afterward at least twice a day (after breakfast, and before going to sleep).
American drugstores and supermarkets have entire aisles stocked with personal hygiene products designed to meet these needs, and there are specialized stores for cosmetics and "bath and body" products.
In terms of products, there are a wide array of soaps, toothpastes, and shampoos available. Deodorants and body sprays are provided to additional "protection" for active people or during warm months. Breath sprays, mints, mouthwashes, and gum are provided for after meals. Additional products are provided for individuals whose personal odors (such as foot odor or smells related to menstruation) are of particular concern.
In addition, perfumes and colognes are used not merely to mask body odor, but to exude a pleasant scent. Traditionally, women were prompted to be more concerned about their personal aroma, but it is increasingly common to target men with scented lotions, soaps, body sprays, and other products that provide an attractive or "irresistible" scent.
In general, the ideal is for a person not to exude a discernable scent at normal conversational distance (about two feet) or, if purposefully using a scented product to create a personal aroma, to be discernable not more than three or four feet from the body.
In addition to bodily hygiene, clothing should also be considered: the American standard is to wear fresh clothing each day - once an article of clothing has a scent of perspiration, it should be washed before being worn again. When feasible, a person may change clothing during the day if the clothing they are wearing become "stale" - to change before an evening social event, and to change clothing (and bathe) after rigorous physical activity. There are likewise many detergents and additives for doing laundry, and products to deodorize fabric, in most supermarkets.
Other than personal scent, ideas about hygiene vary. For women, body hair is an issue - some consider hairy legs or armpits to be unattractive or unhygienic, others prefer not to shave at all. Cosmetics is a matter of fashion. The current trend is to seek a "natural" look that disguises flaws and minor blemishes and creates an even, healthy-looking tone - obvious use of vibrant colors for lipstick and eye shadow is considered old-fashioned or sleazy (the stereotype of a prostitute is a women who wears a lot of make-up), though this varies regionally, by age, and by social status.
VARIATIONS
The author notes some variations on standards of hygiene and personal grooming, as both are considered to be personal choices. The importance of being clean and free of unintentional odors is largely universal in America, but there are variations.
Fashion or style impacts standards of grooming - specifically, what is done to be appealing or attractive or acceptable, and changes over time and by location. The present fashion minimizes the use of make-up and scent, but some Americans do use it more heavily than others. (EN: A personal observation is that people tend to get "stuck" in the fashion that reflects the time and place of young adulthood, and carry that sense of what is appropriate or attractive through their later life.)
Political beliefs also influence grooming or hygiene. Women, in particular, may reject the notion of shaving their body hair or using make-up or perfume because they believe the "need" to be attractive to men is a concession to the values of a male-dominated society. People, particularly men of he lower social classes, may intentionally "neglect" hygiene as a method of rejecting middle-class values. The use of grooming and hygiene to demonstrate political values is more common, and often practiced in an exaggerated way, by college students.
What is described in this chapter is a standard of grooming that is generally practiced by individuals who wish to be socially acceptable in "polite" company or an office environment - it's suggested that foreigners visiting America should seek this standard to "stand in good stead: with mainstream Americans.
OTHER ISSUES CONCERNING HYGIENE
What looks or smells "good" or "bad" are matters of personal and cultural experience. Ideas and practices related to personal hygiene are complex and perplexing,
Americans tend to be more understanding, accepting, and tolerant of cultural differences evident in behavior and speech - but even those who are attentive to culture in other ways often do not recognize grooming and hygiene as the product of culture. The negative stereotype of foreigners is that they are "dirty" or "smelly," and as a result, lazy and socially inferior.
In return, international visitors from most cultures find the hygienic notions of Americans unnatural - a well-groomed man seems less masculine, and a woman who does not use a considerable amount of makeup is unfeminine. And as such, they may be reluctant to deviate from their own cultural norms.
There is also a positive impression of cultures with a more rigorous standard. The Japanese, in particular, are regarded positively because they are so "clean" compared to Americans, and in turn see the Americans as dirty, smelly brutes.
SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Because discussions of bodily odor are uncomfortable for Americans, asking questions under normal circumstances is not likely to be productive. You may glean some information by conversing on the topic of fashion, but in an oblique manner. It may be innocuous to ask about brand preferences for related products, but this line of discussion is prone to stray into uncomfortable territory.
If you turn to advertising or ask of the clerks in stores that sell these products, you will get an exaggerated sense of a need for cleanliness, whether intended to sell more product or out of a desire to be helpful in erring on the side of caution.
In general, you will need to rely on close and attentive observation of the people with whom you interact to determine what level of hygiene and grooming is considered acceptable. But until then, be overcautious about hygiene and moderate about grooming.