Greishla+Perez

Greishla Perez Jeff and PG College Bound June 4, 2013

= Tattoos and Piercings =  Have you ever got a piercing just to make a personal statement about yourself? Piercings and tattoos are body decorations that go back to ancient times. Body piercings involves making a hole in the skin so that you can insert jewelry. More teens are getting their piercings in middle school.[] Now teens are able to get tattoos/ piercings at a very young age. Tattoos and body piercings are forms of self-expression that can help people gain self-confidence but can also cause serious health problems. The popularity of tattoos and piercings has increased in the American culture but at what age is it ok to get a piercings or tattoo. 50% of teens or young adults would like to get their tattoos removed. The other 50% of teens and young adults get their piercings in 7th-9th grade. In the article I read called “Tattoos and piercings: How young is too young?” Maria Lamanga says that “the law change in January 2012 it had previously allowed tattooing/ piercings under the age of 16 as long as the minor had parental consent.”[] I feel like the law has changed because before you had to be 18 or older to be able to get a piercings or tattoo but now your able to so young teens and young adults are taking advantage of the fact that your allowed to get it and they over do it. Like for example Maria states that “Jada Pinkett Smiths 11 year old daughter had recently got a tongue piercings”  Peer pressure plays a big role in one of the reasons the popularity of piercings and tattoos have increased. Body piercings has become a common thing for teenagers.[] Joe Berry states that “piercings is perceived as a way of fitting into a group”. Sometimes teens see other teens with piercings/tattoos so they want to do what others do because they will do anything it takes to try and fit into certain groups. Sometimes teens try to go behind their parents back and get them. “Because of the expense or because parents may not sign consents or piercings/tattoos they have fallen into “hey afterschool at my house” or “I got the tools in buy let’s do it”

Body piercings has a lot to the do with culture religion.[] “Tattoos, piercings and body marks have played roles in many cultures for protection, identification and decoration”. For example Indian girls like to get their nose pierced as part of their tradition and culture. The nose piercing culture represents health of the female reproductive organs as it makes childbirth easier and lessens period pain. It is also a mark of beauty as well as homage to the goddess Parvathi. . According to the article “Body Piercings” Sasha Lopez states that “nose piercings is documented as far back as 1500 BC”. Piercings of these types have been documented globally. While lip piercings and tongue piercings were historically found in African and American tribal culture.[|http://abcnews.go.com/US/students-body-modification-religion-questioned-nose-piercing-controversy/story?id=11645847#.Ua9BpEBQFhg]

In conclusion, Body Piercing is a form of body art. The populations of body piercings have increased throughout the years. The law has changed over time because before you had to be 18 or older now you can be 14, 15, and 16 and as long as you got a parent consent your good to go. Piercings also influence young people to get more and more. I think that us teens shouldn’t worry about trying to get piercings just to fit in, I feel that we should be allowed to get them because we want to make a personally statement about ourself.[|http://bible.org/question/scripture-mentions-nose-and-ear-piercing-other-body-piercing-oka] 