uncleanness
Uncleanness is a state or condition associated with dirt or contamination, used to describe both physical filth and ceremonial taint. In everyday language it connotes unwashed surfaces or spoiled conditions; in religious or cultural contexts it can signify ritual impurity that requires cleansing before certain activities can proceed. Many scholars distinguish physical cleanliness from ritual or social judgments, noting that the latter are culturally constructed.
Ritual systems in many cultures separate clean and unclean states and prescribe purification. Cleansing rites may
Anthropologists view uncleanness as a social category that helps regulate behavior, mark life-stage transitions, and delineate
Contemporary discussions question the use of purity concepts when they stigmatize individuals or communities. Some scholars