Grooming is defined as the act of providing cleaning to oneself or to others, through a series of actions such as bathing, showering, or washing different parts of the body. In general, it refers to the set of activities that are carried out to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the body, in order to maintain good health and remain free of diseases.
In the case of being carried out on oneself, this act is referred to as personal hygiene.
The space in the house where this care is usually carried out is known as the "Toilet room", although the usual use of the term has ended up being reduced in many cases to "toilet". Therefore, with Toilet we can also refer to the room equipped with a shower or bathroom, latrine and sink in which this process is usually carried out.
Grooming as a factor in personal relationships
When it comes to personal hygiene, disease prevention is just one factor to consider. Proper hygiene is essential to maintain normal social activity, and in fact the lack of cleanliness is one of the aspects that most influence social isolation.
People need to relate to each other. In order for this activity to be carried out without interference, it is essential that a minimum of personal hygiene is met, which consists of showering frequently, washing hair and teeth, and applying deodorants or colognes that minimize bad body odors.
When these minimums are not met, social relationships suffer as, by current standards, body odors or dirt are not tolerated in any way.
However, this has not always been the case, and in the Middle Ages it was common for people, even from higher social levels or belonging to the nobility, to spend months without taking care of their personal hygiene, which caused all kinds of diseases. However, these behaviors were socially accepted, so they did not have a major impact on social relationships.
It was not until after the Industrial Revolution that hygienic habits began to be implanted in society little by little, having to go back just a century to begin to find behaviors related to hygiene minimally similar to those prevailing today.
Photos: iStock - kate_sept2004 / Alen-D
