Body Piercing: Reclamation, Enhancement, And Self-Expression

In America the practice of body piercing is everywhere, especially among young people, who are getting several parts of their bodies pierced either as an affirmation of their personal individuality, as a means of sexual gratification or stimulation, areclamation of their bodies from physical or emotional trauma, or for as a means of adornment. Whatever the reason, it'swide spread. Body piercing is the piercing of the ears, nose, septum, cheeks, lip, tongue, nipples, navel, clitoris, labia, penis, andscrotum. Says California State University anthropologist James Myers, Ph.D. body piercing is "possibly as old as genus Homo."(Todd, Richard, p.1) Body piercing studios are popping up all over the country in a response to the growing demand for having aneedle poked through your skin. Contrary to popular belief, body piercing is not being performed by freakish subculture deviants.In order to be a reputable piercer one has to take a rigorous course of education in the principals and methods of body piercing.

This is a step toward the acceptance of body piercing in mainstream America, where it is still viewed with mistrust by many. Body piercing allows a person to express their individuality in a new way: by putting a needle through yourself, you mark your body as your own (Delaney, Jim, p.3). By exploring some of the motivations behind body piercing, one discovers that it's not an unhealthy practice (unless perform...Body Piercing In Our SocietyBody piecing is a topic that is world wide and is in our every day lives. The following series of paragraphs will explain how people with piercings are looked at by society today.



Some wonder why people even get piercings. Most of society doesn't really know the background of piercing's. Today's society can be very cruel and judgmental to new and different things and I will give you my insight on piercings.