Waistband

Historically, in northern India, waistbands served various purposes including fastening miscellaneous items to oneself, such as knives.[2] In ancient history in the southern Levant, the waistband could serve as a status symbol when people would adorn themselves with ornaments attached to their waistbands.[3] In the early 19th century, members of some Taoist branches had their waistbands colored as a distinguisher and in order to symbolize their membership of the sect.[4] In the western world during the 19th century, the contortion of waistbands was less pronounced due to the fashionability of suspenders.[5]

Among some members of the Yoruba, the placement of beads upon their waistbands is an established tradition that is believed to enhance and accentuate a women's femininity.[6] The dimensions of the waistband serve as a contrivance for streamlining waist measurements.[7] Waistbands are often designed with belt loops in order to allow for variation in case of manufacturer subtleties or weight variation in the wearer.[8] A recent Debenhams survey revealed that the placement of one's waistband by males varies with age, with mid-teen boys placing them the lowest, while it steadily rises until the age of 57.[9] The exposure of the underpant waistband has become a trend among followers of grunge music and hip-hop.[10] In stretchy waistbands, the material can be made of various materials including rubber and latex.[11] In contemporary times, waistbands are more picturesque and scintillating compared to previous designs.[12] In western culture waist bands are now often used to achieve body goals such as to prevent overeating in order to maintain a healthy weight. For example, see the Wilhouette Waist Band, which is worn under clothing and which claims to limit expansion of the stomach to make you feel full earlier.[13]

Some men use the waistband in order to hide a genital bulge (also known by the informal terms man-bulge[14][15] or moose-knuckle[16]) in order to avoid embarrassment.[17] During an erection, this is done by jutting it upwards beneath the waistband.[18] This approach may on occasion be colloquially and informally referred to by slang terms such as a waistband tuck,[19] the waistband trick,[20][21] the uptuck[22] or the tuck,[22] the "6 to midnight",[23] or the boner tuck.[24] Although such penile concealment is common in many cultures, some analysts have proposed limiting such a sentiment to informal etiquette so it mitigates the possibility of a young male's propensity for genital dysphoria and subsequent gender dysphoria or body dysmorphia.[25]