Body Modifications: Tattoos, Piercings, And Gauging

Body modifications are permanent changes a person makes to their body. Some do this because of cultural meaning while others do it for their own reasons such as claiming ownership of their bodies. Tattoos, scarification, piercings, and gauging are just a few modifications available to the public. These changes have been around a long time and have appeared in every culture in some form. Any part of the body can be modified by ink or piercings. With the body modification community growing, there is no need to fear those who have altered themselves because no one knows why the did it except themselves.

Grace Murano, writer of unusual human behavior investigates how different cultures modify themselves very similarly concluding

Including but not limited to piercings, gauging or stretching, tattoos and scarification. Piercings are when a sharp metal object, usually a type of needle is inserted through an area such as the earlobes, tongue or even the lips and jewelry is inserted. Gauging is when a piercing is stretched over time to increase its diameter resulting in a ‘hole’. Tattoos are when multiple specialty needles are dipped in ink and pierce the skin, thus dying it permanently. Scarification is when the dermis is cut into shapes or images and patterns so a scar or keloid forms (Winge, T.M.). Body modifications should not be feared or seen as weird because everyone has to reason as to why they are getting modified rather it be for cultural or personal

Just because you have a tattoo or a body modification it does not mean you will never find a job because there are employers who are accepting. With all of the different types of body modifications and all of the people that have them, there are people who are tattooed and employed. Twitch a piercer at Artisan Piercing Boutique acknowledges those wanting to get a body modification documenting “If that’s something that’s inside of you, that you want to be a part of, you’ll be a part of it because you already are a part of it at that point. That’s who you are. It’s just normal people doing their thing that just so happen to be a part of this community that everybody is absolutely welcome to. It’s an open door policy, you know, you are who you are, and that’s all we want you to be”. The body modification community is very welcoming and accepting of anyone who wants to get a modification. Just because you do not have a body modification does not mean you will not be accepted into the community. With more individuals getting body modifications the community is quickly growing as statistics