Chancing at a National Geographic Magazine

As a youngster, Sydney recalls reading the National Geographic publications that were lying around their house. Articles in the magazines cover the diverse flora and wildlife that live on our planet. It also contains details about people’s lives all around the world, from the Kalash of Pakistan to the First Nations of Canada.

She came upon one such story about the “long-necked” inhabitants of Cambodia, a hot, humid area in Southeast Asia. Her admiration for the women who wore neck rings led her to regard the practice as her “calling.” The images drove her to imitate these people’s cultural traditions to feel different.

Inspired by the Kayan People

The Giraffe-loving Sydney Sydney recalled glancing at some Cambodian natives with odd cultural practices as a young girl. But as a grown-up, she chose to copy the Kayan people of Myanmar, who wore neck rings. Myanmar is a tiny South Asian nation that borders India.

The Kayans are indigenous people who are part of the Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority. The bulk of these people live in Myanmar, which is separated into two states, Kayah and Shan. However, there are also extremely minor groups in Vietnam, Thailand, and the United States. At least she’s found a way to emulate her most beloved animal, Sydney must have thought!

Deep Connection to Cultural Identity

The Kayans are subdivided into clans, which include the Lahwi, Gekho, Lahta, Kakhi, and Gebar. Only members of the Kayan Lahwi ethnicity (also called Padaung in Myanmar’s Shan state) wear the brass necklaces. This is a common practice by women.

When questioned about the practice, women stated that it was done to feel linked to their tribe and develop a strong cultural identity. Anthropologists believe it was for cosmetic purposes because long-necked women were considered more feminine. Some say it rendered women unappealing, thereby safeguarding them from enslavement by competing tribes. Others say it was to tie them to the dragon, a key Kayan mythological character.

The Modern-Day Backlash

Women have recently begun to remove their neck rings to expand their social prospects. By removing the circles, they can integrate better into society and seek higher education and other careers. Women in Mae Hong Son removed their bands in 2006 to protest the abuse of their tradition and the mistreatment of women in their clan.

As contemporary influences invaded Myanmar, the authorities pushed women to remove their neck coils to avoid coming across as barbaric and unenlightened to the West. The authorities desired to project an intelligent image to civilized countries, but the neck bands made this impossible. Talk about the passage of time!

Others with the Same Practice

Neck collars appear to be a common tradition in many communities throughout the world. While Sydney has stated that she was influenced mostly by the Asian states of Thailand and Myanmar, the tradition is also found on the African continent.

In South Africa, the Ndebele use neck circles known as “idzila,” which are taken as a sign of wealth and marriage in African tradition. It’s a present from a husband to his wife, and it’s made of brass or copper and commonly worn in multiples of three. These bands are also worn by women on various areas of their bodies, such as the arms.