Ramblings: March 2013

Hurrah for serious blog posts! I've decided I'm going to do a (hopefully) monthly feature, where I talk about something, and don't always share my opinion, but share opposing sides. So I'm going to kick it off with something dear to my heart...body modifications.

For those of you who don't know, Wikipedia defines body modification as:

Body modification (or body alteration) is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy or phenotype. It is often done for aesthetics, sexual enhancement, rites of passage, religious beliefs, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, for shock value, and as self-expression, among others reasons. In its most broad definition it includes plastic surgery, socially acceptable decoration (e.g., common ear piercing in many societies), and religious rites of passage (e.g., circumcision in a number of cultures), as well as the modern primitive movement.

You can see the full article here

Body mods are something that are becoming more and more common and you see more and more people in the street with tattoos and piercings in places other than their ears. But speaking to modified people, you see more and more cases of people being refused jobs and being treated differently in public due to body mods. So is it right to discriminate against modified people? Is it even discrimination? I spoke to a mother and daughter who share very different views on body modifications.

Rachel: I think tattoos are awesome. They become a part of the person who gets it, they are personal to the person and have a meaning to them, they may mark an occasion or a period of life. They are a way of self expression, and maybe to remember something special and could be like a scrapbook on the skin I have three tattoos (even though Mum thinks I have more -_-), all which are special to me and I love showing them off! I don't have any piercings any more other than my ears, but have had my lip and nose done in the past. I am supportive over friends getting tattoos and piercings and stuff, I've even told my Mum that getting a tattoo should definitely be on her bucket list.

Jo: My views may appear a little old fashioned to you, but Rachel will confirm, I am quite open minded, and prefer to discuss rather than dictate. However, on this matter, I have very strong views. Piercings, yes, I have my ears and my naval pierced (my mid life crisis along with a sports car) but both, I can cover up or remove if and when necessary without too many problems. I do not have any tattoos. I think that it is ok for any individual to modify their body in whichever way they choose, I am not so narrow minded that I would form an opinion on a person because of their tattoos or piercings. However, I am fully aware of how many of the general public feel about them, and also how employers judge (sometimes unfairly) and it could effect an individuals future career etc. (hence my reasons for Rachel not doing it) Some people, especially the elderly, are afraid of people with body modifications or tattoos. Back in the dark ages, many people who had tattoos were seen as trouble makers. Working in the prison service for many years, I saw men with unsightly prison tattoos, these were horrible and were often carried out to wear the 'badge of being in prison' with pride. I can spot a prison tattoo in a single glimpse.
I would love a family member regardless of piercings, tattoos or modifications to their body, but would not necessarily agree with them doing it. I would feel rather sad if either of my children had ear stretching and can honestly say I am not happy with Rachels tattoos, and she knows that. I guess I feel ear piercing is more acceptable but to be honest, I don't know why...am I a hypocrite? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is my old fashioned, narrow minded views that are hypocritical. I would welcome challenge to my views, and enjoy healthy dialogue about it, but my mind will not be changed. I guess, as a health professional, I also worry about the negative aspects of body modification and tattooing. I have nursed many young people with horrifying disfigurement injuries or resistant infection following both modifications and tattoos. I have held the hand of a teenager who had to endure the removal of necrosed skin following infection after a failed lip piercing. She is now scarred for life. On the flip side, tattoo art can be absolutely beautiful, and I am not so very narrow minded that I cannot admire a work of art carried out by very gifted and talented individuals. I just would not choose to have one myself and I would be happier if my children chose not to have them too.
As for having one, as part of my bucket list. I politely decline, choosing instead to use my bucket list for traveling to India, Vietnam and Cambodia and seeing my lovely girls be successful.

So what do the heavily modified people think? See below a video from the lovely Morgan, you can see and subscribe to her youtube channel here.

In her mind, body modification discrimination is a very real issue.
Morgan: I view body modification discrimination, in the same way as any other kind of discrimination. It's judging a group of people, and treating them differently for whatever reason. In this case, because of how we look, and how we choose to decorate our body. In my opinion, it should be illegal to deny someone employment due to tattoos or piercings. To me it's no different then not employing someone because they are of a different race, religion, etc. It's wrong and it needs to end.

So where do we draw the line? And why have we drawn the line where it is? Cutting and colouring hair and piercing ears is fine in the eyes of most people. What makes other piercings and tattoo's so different? I worked for a company where in the dress code it was fine to have one nose piercing - I'm not sure how they can decide that one kind of modification is more acceptable than another.

I wouldn't consider myself heavily modified, but I have been refused a job on the grounds I had my ear stretched and my top lip pierced, despite stating in the interview that they could be removed. But I was given a job in a well known fast food restaurant with the same mods. I believe body modification discrimination to be a very real thing, but is it a discrimination we just have to accept?

Elizabeth x

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Friday 22 March 2013

Let's Talk: Body Modifications

Thursday 7 March 2013

Confessions of a Blogger