What is the Meaning & Definition of Tabu

The taboo term is one that is used in common parlance to refer to all the attitudes, actions, behaviors, or set of values that may be opposed to the socially acceptable and therefore understood how dangerous, unpleasant, disputed or not accepted by the largest part of the population. Currently, many taboo practices are carried out in a manner precisely private for unrest or social unrest that can generate, but that discomfort does not mean that they do not exist.
Like everything else that has to do with society and systems of ethical values that apply to a group or community, considered taboo practices are usually artificially established as such due to different sets of rules, values or behaviors that designated them as morally improper, illegal or dangerous. This means that for a society is taboo may not be for another because the practices considered as such vary not only in terms of space if not also of time.
It is common to refer, when speaking of taboo, to practices having to do with the sexuality of individuals, as well as the relationships that are maintained with other individuals, dietary practices, the use of language or the briefest, etc. In this sense, there are sexual practices that tend to be considered taboo for most societies, as happens for example with what is considered incest (sexual intercourse between relatives) or with cannibalism (i.e. the consumption of human flesh). However, what a society deeply conservative or religious considered taboo (perhaps the use of the body to be tattoos, gestures or ways of dressing) can be completely normal and common in other more liberal societies.
Today there are societies and communities considered "primitive" by modern Western society that keep many rites and practices that, according to Western morality, are not appropriate. The same happens with the Oriental marital, sexual, or religious practices that tend to be poorly viewed in the West. However, the criticism made by the Western world about other cultures does not takes into account that many practices (such as for example the excessive consumption of beef) can be offensive or objectionable to other societies.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.