At A Glance
Author	Blaze
Contact	[email protected]
When	N/A

I began modifying my body at the age of fourteen when I got my first tattoo. I was judged slightly then, but only by a parent of my good friend, who wouldn't let her daughter do anything with me when she found out about it. She told her daughter I had to be into drugs, or had to be a bad person to do such a thing. That couldn't have been farther from the truth. I am a good person, and I still am, another tattoo and seven piercings later. Now, the judging is more often, and by more people. I am given stares and looks, not to mention rude comments. It still upsets me slightly, but I am now more used to it, but there are some things that will always upset me.

I read many experiences on BME, and quite a few talks about people getting suspended or expelled from school due to modifications, or being asked to cover them up or remove them. Why this is, I'm not sure. Fortunately, my school has no policy against piercings or tattoos, but I am bothered by schools that do, I am even more bothered by schools who have denied children education due to them. No school should have the right to deny a child education because of the way they look. Everybody has the right to learn, and everybody has the right to do what they wish to their body. A nose ring should not affect anybody's rights to anything. A tattoo should not have an affect on your future. By suspending and expelling our children from school due to their modifications, we are telling them that they are not good enough to receive an education, so they must change their appearance and look more "normal" to satisfy others, and not themselves. They are almost saying they have n o freedom to choose what they want to do to their bodies. By doing this, we are limiting our children's creativity and ability to express themselves freely and learn what makes them feel complete and themselves. It's not right telling them being unique is wrong. It's not right to deprive someone of an education based solely on the way they look. It's like saying black children don't have the right to learn simply because they are black, or Jewish children must convert to Christianity to receive an education. Everybody is equal and should be treated that way, regardless of race, religion, or appearance.

Another thing that bothers me is trying to find a job. Because of my visible piercings, and odd colored hair, it is a constant battle to find one. I have actually walked into a place, asked for an application, and been told they were not hiring so I had no need for one, even though I had seen a "help wanted" sign in the window before I had came in two minutes ago. I can not tell you how many job interviews I have been on, and how many applications I have turned in, and guess how many times I have been hired? Not once. I was told the only way I could work anywhere was if I worked in the back room of a business, I could never work where the public could see me and the only way I could was if I got rid of the pink in my hair, and removed my piercings because I needed to look more "professional" or my appearance might offend customers. I won't do that to please anyone. I don't see why anyone would walk into a store, see someone with an eyebrow ring, act absolutely horrif ied because of it, then leave. Someone wouldn't do that if they saw an employee with earrings, how is a labret any different? Because it's an "unusual" place to be pierced? Why is it that a person with no visible piercings or tattoos will be hired before I will, if we both have the same amount experience, education, and so on? Because they look more "normal"? It's absolutely ridiculous and completely unfair, but unfortunately there are no laws to protect us, but I hope one day there will be, because we deserve the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. I can work just as well with my piercings and pink hair as a person without that stuff can. So what do modified people do until then? Keep fighting for the same rights, educating others, and proving to people that the stereotypes about us are wrong. Maybe one day people won't look at us any differently than they would an unmodified person. We need to open the minds of the closed-minded people around us. We need to keep being proud of who we are and not change for anybody but ourselves.

Much love,

-Blaze