Body piercing has become more and more popular among teens and young adults.
Pierced ears have been common for many years. But now, no part of the body
seems to be off limits for rings, studs, and bars. Navels, tongues, eyebrows,
and nostrils have become popular places for piercings.
Piercing has been around for a long time. It has been used in religious and
cultural ceremonies and is common in some cultures around the world. For many
of today's American youth, piercings are fashion statements. Like tattoos,
daring clothing, and extreme hair styles, piercing may be a badge of identity.1
Adults may worry that piercing is unsafe, or just plain wrong. They may view
it as a sign of delinquency and rejection of traditional values. While this
may be true for some teens, others see body piercing as a form of self-expression.
So, which is it? Is body piercing a passing phase—part of a personal
declaration of independence? Or, does it signal an urge to push social limits
and to take risks? The answer is different for each teen. Risk-taking can be
a growth experience; the key is to take the right kind of risk. This means
taking part in activities that build ability, awareness, and character.
What To Say
If a young person wants a piercing or comes home with one, ask why he wants
it and how it fits into his self-image and social life. Discussion will be
more useful than anger or immediate rejection. You may learn something by listening
to your teen’s views on the subject and you may get a chance to share
your own thoughts.
What To Know
Learn about piercing, including the proper procedures, risks (there's that
word again), and safety issues.2 Having the facts will help you provide guidance
and make it tougher for a child to dismiss your concerns. If a child gets a
body piercing, remember, the industry is not well-regulated. However, there
are professional standards for which some piercers are certified.
What To Do
Urging caution, keeping an eye on behavior, and enforcing rules can go a
long way toward helping your teen make healthy choices. Prevention is about
more
than stopping problem behavior. Channeling a young person's search for
adventure can yield great results. Exposing teens to people, places, and ideas
can
open them up to a world of opportunity, but that world is different for
each teen. For many young people, body piercing is a decision to try something
new and may satisfy their appetites for adventure.
Additional Resources:
|