Laney+Fang

**Human Artwork: Perceptions of Body Modification **
 People with body modifications such as tattoos and piercings are usually seen as wild and rebellious and often looked down upon despite that this form of personal expression is and has been prevalent around the world for thousands of years. These perceptions can often lead to low self-esteem, questioning of personal appearance and feelings of being the “other”, or someone who feels alienated from any group, also known as a black sheep. How are these practices perceived in different cultures, America and on men vs. women?  Body modification, sometimes wrongly identified as self-mutilation, refers to tattoos, piercings and other forms of expression excluding surgery. In various cultures it is not uncommon to see men, women and even children with various piercings-such as that of the nose piercing on little girls common in Indian culture-and tattoos. In America we see similar trends, for example little girls who have their ears pierced. These are among the more accepted modifications, but as for other, more extreme ones, it is unclear when exactly these forms of expression gained such negative connotations in our culture and why they still exist today.  The true origin of tattooing is unknown, some say it started in England with an unfortunate chimney sweep (he fell in, the soot stained his face in an interesting pattern), others believe it started with various tribes around the world. Artwork showing various modifications is prevalent in Mayan culture. In those days, body modification was seen as something only primitive people did, an overly extreme way to express one's self. In regards to an archaic INDIAN?  tattooing practice, van Dinter states: “Everyone, from the mountain peoples in northeastern India to the Tamils in the south, used tattoos mainly to enhance a girl's beauty. They were her personal jewellery [sic]” (Hesselt van Dinter, 2005). He goes on to quote, “'Tattoos are the only jewels a girl takes to her grave'” (Hesselt van Dinter, 2005). Today, these practices have become less common in most Indian cities but are still available to those willing to pay for them. From these quotations, it can be seen that tattoos are of high importance in positive perception of women in Indian culture. These tattoos are seen as symbols of pride, showcasing the delicate aesthetics of these women; similar to how women in American society often wear expensive name-brand jewelry to offset beauty. Men in these cultures, in contrast with American men, are seldom tattooed. When they are, the tattoos are for “therapeutic or purely decorative” (Hesselt van Dinter, 2005) purposes.  Body modification has never really had a positive perception in America. Starting with Native Americans, people were looked down upon and labeled as savages and freaks for having holes in their faces, multiple scarifications and permanent war paint on their bodies. Punk kids were, and are still, feared for the extremity of their hair styles and colors, often vulgar nature of tattoos and placement along with quantity of piercings. In my own experience, having a simple nostril piercing and a few ear piercings has led me to be perceived negatively when interviewing for certain jobs. It is appalling to me how and why employers are able to pass over someone who has all the skill in the world, charm for days and the ability to learn quickly for having a few piercings and maybe one or two visible tattoos. American culture is so sickly focused on aesthetics and perceptions that often people who choose to make body modifications, such as the well-known Lizardman, can only hope to find work as unfortunately-named “side-show freaks”. Lizardman, who's real name is Erik Sprague, has taken these negative perceptions into account, and has made proceedings to become as close to a human lizard as possible to gain work, embracing the fact that he is considered a freak. He has a tattoo of the word “freak” on his chest, and when asked why he has put more than 700 hours into these modifications, replied with “Why not?” (Raymond).  In my personal experience, men with a few visible tattoos are more likely to get certain jobs than women with visible tattoos; women with multiple ear piercings are more likely to get certain jobs than men with multiple ear piercings. Who gets to decide which body modifications are more acceptable for each gender to have, and why is this discrimination allowed to continue? Many times I have been told that having a couple of piercings would not keep me from getting a job at most retail stores and restaurants, however if I were to have several visible tattoos, as some of my male friends do, I would not even be considered for the position. If given the opportunity, I would like to blindfold employers, have five people without any body modifications and five with interview for a job. All applicants would be equally qualified and unqualified, but I am curious to see if the employer would hire the same people blindfolded as he would without the blindfold. Simple experiments like this would demonstrate the negative perceptions people with body modifications receive in the professional world.  Despite the discrimination in the professional world, in recent years body modifications have been in the spotlight in the media for positive reasons. Twenty years ago, there were very few people in the media with multiple piercings other than earlobe piercings or people with visible tattoos not identifying with sub-cultures such as “punk” or “goth”. Probably the closest you'd get to seeing these and other modifications would be while watching third-world documentaries. Television shows such as Miami Ink and LA Ink on The Learning Channel showcase people of various backgrounds wanting a variety of interesting tattoos. The popularity of Miami Ink, a show about a group of male tattoo artists at a well-known shop in Miami, Florida led to a demand for LA Ink, following the start and growth of an all female (minus one male) tattoo shop in Los Angeles. The people featured on the show are seen getting the tattoos while discussing the stories and meaning behind their designs. Shows like this have helped to demonstrate that not all tattoos are “tramp stamps” (a popular tattoo among young women, often a simple picture such as a zodiac sign or butterfly on the lower back) and tribal armbands. Other reality shows including American Idol, The Biggest Loser and Hell's Kitchen have all had multiple contestants with body modifications who broke the negative stereotypes of being wild, troubled youth. A few other non-reality television shows, including the popular Canadian show Degrassi: The Next Generation, have main characters with multiple body modifications breaking the stereotypes. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find main characters on American television shows who are not cast as being wild punks and degenerates. As far as teenagers are concerned, I think that it could only serve as beneficial to have these and other diverse role models on TV, and not many TV shows are doing that. Its almost as if they are saying that this lifestyle is something that is //still// not acceptable in today's society, while other characters, such as school-skipping potheads, slutty girls, “player” african american males and drugged-out rich teens continue to be accepted as normal, and often are considered role models to some.  The sad fact is that most news coverage of people with body modifications remains negative, but this is nothing new. Recently, a 14-year old girl from North Carolina was suspended from school for refusing to remove a nostril piercing (Rob, 2010). The school board wanted to have her sent to a school for young adults with behavioral issues. This kind of treatment of kids in the educational system is absurd. Would they have said the same thing to a girl of Indian heritage with the same piercing? All people with body modifications, be they cultural traditions or personal expression, should not have to deal with this kind of discrimination and mistreatment.  There are certain institutions, such as the military comma which generally regulate piercings and more extreme forms of body modification, but not tattoos. Body modifications and mutilations that are not accepted by the U.S. Navy, for example include: “Forking the tongue, Enlarged or stretched holes in the ears, Foreign objects under the skin that create a design or pattern, Intentional scarring, Intentional burns, Dental ornamentation”. The article cited goes on to say, “Women, however, are allowed one ball-studded earring in each ear”. Again we see this double standard for body modifications; there are piercings that are considered feminine versus masculine. You don't really say that pierced ears are forbidden for men, just enlarged or stretched holes. Could you make that a little more clear?  Supposedly, there are piercings that are for men and piercings that are for women. It used to be that only women got piercings other than earlobe piercings, and usually the only widely popular one was the belly button piercing. Today, popular women's piercings include the tongue, belly button, nipples, nostrils, lip and monroe piercings, and multiple ear piercings which including the tragus, cartilage and rook piercings. Men's piercings considered popular today are nostril, eyebrows, cartilage, labret and septum. Other than the obvious reasons for genital piercings, it is hard to say why these piercings are often divided into the categories of masculine and feminine. In reference to placement of earlobe piercings on men, the saying goes that “left is right and right is wrong”, which has to do with perceptions of sexuality; when piercing one earlobe, it is considered a sign of homosexuality if a man only has his right lobe pierced. From personal experience, I know that some piercings are also considered to be inappropriate for different social classes. For example, I have been informed that eyebrow piercings are only for poor, low class individuals. People with tongue and nipple piercings are often labeled as nymphomaniacs and prostitutes. The common perception is still that people who are not female should not have any piercings other than two earlobe piercings.  In American culture, body modifications have nearly always had the connotation of being crude, primitive forms of self-expression. In other cultures such as Indian cultures, tattoos and piercings are seen as signs of success and beauty. Studies have shown that children in America are being taught that people with body modifications should be perceived negatively (Seiter & Hatch, 2005). Despite having many people with body modifications who break negative perceptions featured on popular television shows, we as a nation are still not very accepting of these individuals. A large number of highly skilled people are turned away from numerous jobs every day because of the perceptions associated with body modification. Men and women are divided into socially acceptable categories of his and hers body modifications.  It is no easy task to change thousands of years worth of negative perceptions. By having more lead characters on TV shows and stories featured in the news that include people with body modifications shown in a positive light, we can start to break down these barriers that have been set and start to accept these people as mainstream members of society, while still respecting the need for a sub-culture. Both men and women having the same types of tattoos and placement of piercing should be able treated equally in the consideration of employment. People who have body modifications should have equal job opportunities as everyone else. Company policies should be changed to accommodate the rapidly changing culture. Discrimination against people with body modifications is unjustified and hurtful. To me, it is as painful as being categorized as “butch” for having short hair; being singled out because I have tattoos and piercings. Being made to feel like a freak, like the “other”. The next time you ask yourself questions such as, “Why would someone want to poke holes in their body?” and “Don't they know that tattoos are permanent?”, ask yourself why you like the like the music you like, why you wear the clothes you wear and why you are who you are. How would you feel if someone singled you out or called you a freak for expressing yourself? Don't continue the cycle. You've done a good job explaining the effects of prejudice. I would have liked to learn a little more about what modification does for people. Erik Sprague's answer, "why not?" isn't enough. Is there a feeling of solidarity with others who have similar tattoos? Does that tattoo mark an event in one's life, or perhaps a commitment to a cause? What are people trying to express with their tattoos? And, in the context of Women's Studies, do women have different reasons than men for getting a tattoo?

References Ask BME is an extension of the BME website, providing answers to questions pertaining to any and all <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">body modification questions (http://ask.bmezine.com/).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Good source for commonly asked questions concerning body modifications.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Rob. (2010, October 8). //ModBlog news of the week// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">http <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">:news. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-decoration: none;">bmezine <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">.com/2010/10 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-decoration: none;">/ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">08/modblog-news-of-the-week-oct-8th-2010/

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Discussing a girls unjust suspension.

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal; text-align: left;">DeLaughter, P. (2007, June 22).

//Navy reminds sailors to adhere to body modification policy//.//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;"> Retrieved //

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">from http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30183

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Gives examples of Navy policies regarding body modifications

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Hesselt van Dinter, Maarten. (2005).

//The world of tattoo: An illustrated history//.//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;"> AMS: KIT Publishers. //

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">An illustrated history of tattoos in different cultures, separated by chapter.

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Kahl, C.M. (2002).

//Perceptions of body modifications<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">. Informally published manuscript, Department of Psychology, Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri. Retrieved from // <span style="display: inline ! important; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">( <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/385.php)

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Gives information about students perception of body modifications.

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Patterson, M., & Schroeder, J. (2010). Borderlines: Skin, tattoos and consumer culture theory.

//Marketing Theory<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">, 10<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">(3), 253-267. //

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Discusses skin, women and femininity.

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal; text-align: left;">Raymond, K.

The Hellzapoppin freak sideshow//<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">. Retrieved from http://ndepth.newsok.com/freakshow <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">. //

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Specifically, and interview with Erik “Lizard Man” Sprague.

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Rodriguez Cano, C., & Sams, D. (2010). Body modifications and young adults: Predictors of

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">intentions to engage in future body modification.

//Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">, // //17<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">(1), 80-87. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">//Discusses trends in young people relating to body modifications//.

<span style="color: #000000; display: inline ! important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;">Seiter, J.S., & Hatch, S. (2005). Effect of tattoos on perceptions of credibility and attractiveness.

//Psychological Reports, 96//(<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-style: normal;">1), pp. 1113-1120.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Studying attractiveness based on photos of people with and without tattoos.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Static Radio. (2005, September 19). LizardMan [Video file]. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE9FRxoC7zc

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Erik Sprague discusses the perceptions of some of his body modifications. //