"The human body at birth is like a blank canvas. Some people choose to keep it blank, others choose to decorate it." It is up to the person themselves or, as is getting more common as times are changing, their guardians what they can do to their bodies. Some people do it for shock factor, some do it for medical reasons, and some to enhance their relationship.
At A Glance Author an0nymous_vamp1re Contact [email protected] IAM an0nymous_vamp1re When N/A The extent of body modifications can range from being as simple as single studs in someone's earlobes to as extreme as groups of rings ( commonly called a ladder) in their genitals, or a butterfly tattoo the size of a quarter on a teenage girl, to partial or complete "body suits". It is commonplace to walk around a college campus and see students, male and female, with multiple piercings in their earlobes or cartilage. Recently it has become almost as common to see a pierced navel, especially on females. The two most common tattoos for females are dolphins and butterflies on the hips. For males, the most common is a tribal armband. Usually the armbands are high enough that they are covered by the short sleeves of a t-shirt.
This is because even though piercings and tattoos are becoming more "normal," many employers will discriminate against people with visible body modifications. Some companies will allow them to be hidden, while others will not even hire a prospective employee who has visible modifications. This is because there is still a stereotype of people with piercings and tattoos being "freaks" or "outlaws." Commonly, when people think of someone who is heavily tattooed, they think of someone wearing a leather jacket riding a motorcycle, and therefore think that that individual must not fit in with "normal" people in society. The tolerance of visible modifications ranges from industry to industry, and company to company. While greeters and servers at a restaurant may not be allowed to have any visible modifications, someone who works in the shipping department of a company and is in a warehouse all day will likely not have any restrictions at all.
One common point of argument in workplaces is gender discrimination. In many workplaces, it is commonly allowed for females to have their earlobes, navel, or nostril piercings visible, while it is not for males. Many people cover their piercings with a band-aid while working, or use retainers in the holes to stop them from closing. A retainer is a piece of clear plastic that is nearly impossible to see and is used in place of a piece of jewelry. For the people that get modifications that have a strong meaning to them, having to cover them up can cause them to be upset.
Different people get modifications for different reasons. Many children are getting their ears pierced "because it is cute" or just because they can go to a kiosk at the mall to get a stud impaled through their skin. Many people in the modification community do not even consider basic earlobe piercings to be true modifications. Some get tattoos or piercings to remind themselves of a certain point in their life, whether it is happy or sad. Still others will just wander into a piercing studio or a tattoo parlor and get something because they felt like doing something different that day.
Some people will go with a family member or significant other and they will use it as a bonding experience. It is also increasingly common for someone to get a tattoo in memory of a loved one that they lost. Many times though, people feel that piercings and tattoos are addictive and therefore return to get more after their first.
While many people get flash, pre-drawn designs for their tattoos off of the wall in the studios or off of the internet, many others will either go in with a personal design they want, or just an idea and have the artist draw it up for them, which will make it more unique and personal.
Although some people will get tattoos or piercings just to get attention or see what kind of reaction they can get, many people get them for themselves alone. When they do this (usually with a tattoo), it is common that nobody even knows that they have a tattoo, because it is not visible and they do not tell many people that they have it. One less common reason for people to modify themselves is for medical purposes. There are many stories of people who had pain that went away after getting a tattoo or piercing.
Tattoos are becoming so common that there are now two reality shows on television that follow the progress of two tattoo parlors. They show interviews with the clients deciding on what they would like to get and what it means to them. Then they show the work being done and the outcome afterward. They also show the background of running a shop.
Having body modifications also brings people together. There are social groups on the internet just for people who have mods. There are conventions all around the country and the world for tattoos, piercings, and even more extreme things like suspensions (hanging in the air by hooks inserted through the skin). If someone who is usually shy but has a tattoo sees someone else with a tattoo while walking around, the first person is more likely to start a conversation, because he or she already knows that the two of them have something in common.
My interest in tattoos and piercings started when someone I knew got a tattoo and explained how meaningful it was, and the great experience he had getting it. I hope to pass this knowledge on to others in the future, especially to those who still believe the old stereotypes.