10% of the UK population have piercings other than the lobe and over 50% of the population in America are pierced altogether, always increasing per year. This is a very controversial subject that I can relate to very personally as it has created a lot of problems for me. Piercings, tattoos, hair-dye, nail polish - anything of the sort, is normally not allowed within the work place. Firstly, if it's because it effects the work, then that is self-explanatory and I completely respect that; but if it doesn't - then I personally do not see any problem. But unfortunately, most employers do not agree.
It's not considered "professional" to have piercings on your face or having more than a simple lobe piercing. The definition of professionalism is "the competence or skill expected of a professional"; so why does having piercings matter? Who decided that to be really good at something you can't have your nose pierced? A lot of people in my survey said that it's 'only a bit of metal' and it actually goes to the extent of showing creativity and uniqueness. I feel that being professional should in no way be associated with what piercings or tattoos you may have, because you can be really good at something at the same time as having a few holes in your ears. Some people however, argued that it might go 'against the dress-code' and potentially 'lose the company money'. This infuriates me. How could I possibly lose the company money because of a nose piercing? If customers decide they don't want to come back and shop at a specific place because they don't like my piercings, then they are the most shallow and pathetic creatures to ever venture on this earth. In terms of a dress-code, most companies have these in order to reflect their aims and ethos or to be able to portray professionalism; therefore banning piercings within the dress-code would again be suggesting that they aren't professional or reflecting a very positive image. This is very stereotypical; but I will elaborate later on.
If piercings and tattoos are therefore considered 'professional' does this then mean that people with piercings have less employability stats? 73% of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos, however 76% of employees feel it does effect their chances. This has a lot to do with society and the way people are bought up and how they come to understand how people feel about tattoos and piercings. I've always been told that tattoos will be effect my chances of having a job, I didn't think this actually mattered until my piercings DID effect my opportunities. It was weird that in my survey response that not a lot of people were effected and most employers really didn't mind. However, most people in the survey did delay or completely eradicate the idea of getting a piercing or tattoo because they were worried about their employability stats, one person actually said they were terried of doing so just in case. So I guess the answer to one of my questions presented in the survey, "How will we improve how people view piercings and the issue with piercings in work places" is to be able to make it widespread knowledge that piercings and tattoos really don't matter.
Another piece of evidence to prove that piercings don't matter is how many people have responsed to me and said they never ever get complaints but only ever receive compliments! This came as a great shock to me because all I have ever received is distasteful comments such as:
"You'd be really pretty if you didn't have those in your face"
"Better not wear red around you, eh?"
"Why would you do that to yourself?"
"You look like a bull. Or a fat pig"
"You'll never get married with stretched ears"
I think the closest I got to a compliment was when a middle-aged women said, "Wow. You're actually really nice for someone who is pierced." It's really hard for me to feel confident with the way I look and go out to places like work or school when people are constantly reminding me that they dislike my piercings. I know people who've actually taken piercings out because of others constantly being rude about. It's horrible to think that this is actually happening, like people feel limited in their freedom of expression because no matter what they do someone is going to hate it. And you might be thinking, "Yeah but you'd tell someone if their haircut look bad right?" It's really not your opinion that matters, it's theirs. I've kept my piercings in because I like them; and plus it also really annoys people to see their nasty comments haven't changed anything. I feel that if we are going to make it widespread knowledge that piercings and tattoos are okay and that society is changing we need to actually embrace that and take action on it. People need to stop being rude and just downright mean.
The main complaints/mean comment stem from stereotypes. A lot of people assume that people with piercings or tattoos are emos, goths or into drugs etc, etc. It's the worst stereotype I have ever grown up to understand because it's absolutely wrong and downright stupid. As are most stereotypes. Having a piercing doesn't make you an emo and having a tattoo doesn't make you a drug dealer. It doesn't define your education or skill or intelligence, it simply doesn't represent anything to you if you don't know that person. It's horrible to hear how many people can see others whispering or trying to avoid them because their body is inked or piercing. Some of the nicest people I know are inked and pierced; and they are a thousand times more the person than the people who insult me and have no ink or piercings. You may have a completely untainted body, but that doesn't mean you're not a complete jerk.
Continuing on from the idea of 'freedom of expression', a lot of people commenting that being able to get pierced or inked is people being able to express themselves. People shouldn't judge them, their is nothing wrong with them, they should be allowed to do what they want with the blank canvas that is their body. Being able to present yourself in whatever way you desire, is a a way of people learning to be comfortable in their body. A way to learn to love yourself. That is one of my favourite things about my piercings, is the idea that is was my choice, my body and my freedom of expression. It's all me. Nobody could ever take that away despite how hard they try. We're bought up drunk of freedom of expression, stop trying to take it away from us.
A few other comments that were bought to my attention was the idea that main reason why this is still such a major issue is because of the older generations. Now, I do need to acknowledge that it's not ALL of the older generations, but I have seen some cool OAPS rocking the piercings, ink and hair dye. But once I read this comment it did make me realise that most of the mean comments are from older people. I do get a lot of mean comments from people my age, but not to the same extent as older people do. So maybe the way this is resolved is simply when the younger generation are able to raise their voice and are able to do and say what they want. Society is widely changing and adapting as this new generation grow up, which is amazing to watch because equality especially is one major problem which I feel is slowly being resolved with young, open minds.
Overall, I feel like this 'problem' is being resolved as the younger generation grows up. Whilst I am still young, I will always have problems with my piercings in part-time jobs. But hopefully as I grow up and start to do what I want to do for a living, it won't be a problem at all. What concerns me the most is that people who have piercings and tattoos feel comfortable and happy with their choices without others downgrading them. We all need to learn not to discriminate, not to judge and eradicate stereotypes. With this, employability shouldn't ever have to be an issue. Professionalism is how skilled an individual is, how they are hard-worker, how they are dedicated and passionate about a specific profession. Not whether they have a piercing on their face, or a tattoo on their arm. There will always be someone who hates your piercing or tattoo, but remember its your body, they are jerk and you 100% look great.
PRO PIERCING & TATTOO.
It's not considered "professional" to have piercings on your face or having more than a simple lobe piercing. The definition of professionalism is "the competence or skill expected of a professional"; so why does having piercings matter? Who decided that to be really good at something you can't have your nose pierced? A lot of people in my survey said that it's 'only a bit of metal' and it actually goes to the extent of showing creativity and uniqueness. I feel that being professional should in no way be associated with what piercings or tattoos you may have, because you can be really good at something at the same time as having a few holes in your ears. Some people however, argued that it might go 'against the dress-code' and potentially 'lose the company money'. This infuriates me. How could I possibly lose the company money because of a nose piercing? If customers decide they don't want to come back and shop at a specific place because they don't like my piercings, then they are the most shallow and pathetic creatures to ever venture on this earth. In terms of a dress-code, most companies have these in order to reflect their aims and ethos or to be able to portray professionalism; therefore banning piercings within the dress-code would again be suggesting that they aren't professional or reflecting a very positive image. This is very stereotypical; but I will elaborate later on.
If piercings and tattoos are therefore considered 'professional' does this then mean that people with piercings have less employability stats? 73% of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos, however 76% of employees feel it does effect their chances. This has a lot to do with society and the way people are bought up and how they come to understand how people feel about tattoos and piercings. I've always been told that tattoos will be effect my chances of having a job, I didn't think this actually mattered until my piercings DID effect my opportunities. It was weird that in my survey response that not a lot of people were effected and most employers really didn't mind. However, most people in the survey did delay or completely eradicate the idea of getting a piercing or tattoo because they were worried about their employability stats, one person actually said they were terried of doing so just in case. So I guess the answer to one of my questions presented in the survey, "How will we improve how people view piercings and the issue with piercings in work places" is to be able to make it widespread knowledge that piercings and tattoos really don't matter.
Another piece of evidence to prove that piercings don't matter is how many people have responsed to me and said they never ever get complaints but only ever receive compliments! This came as a great shock to me because all I have ever received is distasteful comments such as:
"You'd be really pretty if you didn't have those in your face"
"Better not wear red around you, eh?"
"Why would you do that to yourself?"
"You look like a bull. Or a fat pig"
"You'll never get married with stretched ears"
I think the closest I got to a compliment was when a middle-aged women said, "Wow. You're actually really nice for someone who is pierced." It's really hard for me to feel confident with the way I look and go out to places like work or school when people are constantly reminding me that they dislike my piercings. I know people who've actually taken piercings out because of others constantly being rude about. It's horrible to think that this is actually happening, like people feel limited in their freedom of expression because no matter what they do someone is going to hate it. And you might be thinking, "Yeah but you'd tell someone if their haircut look bad right?" It's really not your opinion that matters, it's theirs. I've kept my piercings in because I like them; and plus it also really annoys people to see their nasty comments haven't changed anything. I feel that if we are going to make it widespread knowledge that piercings and tattoos are okay and that society is changing we need to actually embrace that and take action on it. People need to stop being rude and just downright mean.
The main complaints/mean comment stem from stereotypes. A lot of people assume that people with piercings or tattoos are emos, goths or into drugs etc, etc. It's the worst stereotype I have ever grown up to understand because it's absolutely wrong and downright stupid. As are most stereotypes. Having a piercing doesn't make you an emo and having a tattoo doesn't make you a drug dealer. It doesn't define your education or skill or intelligence, it simply doesn't represent anything to you if you don't know that person. It's horrible to hear how many people can see others whispering or trying to avoid them because their body is inked or piercing. Some of the nicest people I know are inked and pierced; and they are a thousand times more the person than the people who insult me and have no ink or piercings. You may have a completely untainted body, but that doesn't mean you're not a complete jerk.
Continuing on from the idea of 'freedom of expression', a lot of people commenting that being able to get pierced or inked is people being able to express themselves. People shouldn't judge them, their is nothing wrong with them, they should be allowed to do what they want with the blank canvas that is their body. Being able to present yourself in whatever way you desire, is a a way of people learning to be comfortable in their body. A way to learn to love yourself. That is one of my favourite things about my piercings, is the idea that is was my choice, my body and my freedom of expression. It's all me. Nobody could ever take that away despite how hard they try. We're bought up drunk of freedom of expression, stop trying to take it away from us.
A few other comments that were bought to my attention was the idea that main reason why this is still such a major issue is because of the older generations. Now, I do need to acknowledge that it's not ALL of the older generations, but I have seen some cool OAPS rocking the piercings, ink and hair dye. But once I read this comment it did make me realise that most of the mean comments are from older people. I do get a lot of mean comments from people my age, but not to the same extent as older people do. So maybe the way this is resolved is simply when the younger generation are able to raise their voice and are able to do and say what they want. Society is widely changing and adapting as this new generation grow up, which is amazing to watch because equality especially is one major problem which I feel is slowly being resolved with young, open minds.
Overall, I feel like this 'problem' is being resolved as the younger generation grows up. Whilst I am still young, I will always have problems with my piercings in part-time jobs. But hopefully as I grow up and start to do what I want to do for a living, it won't be a problem at all. What concerns me the most is that people who have piercings and tattoos feel comfortable and happy with their choices without others downgrading them. We all need to learn not to discriminate, not to judge and eradicate stereotypes. With this, employability shouldn't ever have to be an issue. Professionalism is how skilled an individual is, how they are hard-worker, how they are dedicated and passionate about a specific profession. Not whether they have a piercing on their face, or a tattoo on their arm. There will always be someone who hates your piercing or tattoo, but remember its your body, they are jerk and you 100% look great.
PRO PIERCING & TATTOO.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE DEARLY...who took the time the reply to my survey. It helped me a lot with this article and really opened my eyes to the subject. I am widely grateful.