Abstract
American anthropologist Mary Douglas coined the phrase “Where there is
dirt, there is system.” This phrase is considered in the context of
diverse case studies: the Dalits of India, the condition of anorexia,
and food taboos among the Orang Asli community of Malaysia. The paper
argues that underlying diverse societies is a need to achieve system and
structure by distinguishing between the acceptable and the unacceptable
as related to matters of health and taboo.