By Donte Medder |Staff Writer|
It’s time for the art of expression through body piercing to make its way into the workplace. Currently, workers must now decide if they want to conform to the professional standard of a clean cut work force or maintain a sense of individualism through self-expression like body piercings. But why?
The reasoning behind body piercings vary. Some are religious in nature, spiritual, for self-expression, aesthetic value, for sexual pleasure or to conform or rebel against culture. Contemporary piercing is often done in tattoo shops and most often uses safe body piercing materials.
One can just look around and see athletes, rock musicians, movie stars and others in the media with visible piercings. Dennis Rodman, Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz and Lil Wayne are just a few that come to mind.
The question is if the visible individual expressions of body piercings are accepted in the work force, and if not will they ever be?
Lucas Cuny, business concierge in the Career Center, believes that an overabundance of piercings is not welcome in the work environment.
In some industries it can be accepted, such as the fashion and entertainment industries. But a lot of businesses are still run in a conservative manner.
Students have different views on piercings in the work place.
Student Brianna Brown has an on-campus job and during her interview chose to wear her nose piercing. She believes that piercings have grown to be accepted.
“Executives are now seen with tattoos and piercings,’ said Brown. “Personally, I wouldn’t wear my hoop, I would wear a small stud instead, but they are more common now.”
Staff member Judi Cruz believes campuses should hire students who express themselves through piercings because they may be able to identify better with the other students.
Student Britney Boyd did not wear her nose ring during her interview. She said, “I was told you shouldn’t wear facial piercings during job interviews.”
Now, she wears her nose ring during her work shifts. She has only run into minor issues with customer complaints and she has only been told to remove it once while working.
Student Kenya Johnson wears her facial piercings during interviews, and does not see the problem with them. She said, “I wear my piercings in interviews because I think they shouldn’t base me being hired off of how I look but rather what I bring to the table skill-wise.”
With more people working from home, this could become less of a social issue. But as long as there is still strict conservative businesses, some jobs will not be available for people who choose to show their individuality through piercings.
Until then, studded students, wear your loops and hoops proud, be a good employee and maybe you’ll help to bring a change in the future.
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