“I’m not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything.” -John Lennon

With today’s society rapidly changing year after year, new trends tend to come and go. From bell bottom jeans in the 70’s to fashion today, the change is drastic.

While many trends fly by night and seemingly come and go with each new breath, some trends gain ground and have the staying power to become something much more. Manipulations of the body have long been a trend all around the world but now they can be found right around the corner, popping up in your local coffee shops, classrooms and even in the professional fields.

Thousands of people all around the world are taking modifications to a new place, redefining the term “self expression.”

Urban Dictionary defines body modifications as “The act of changing one’s body in order to beautify or better it.”

Tattoos

Stretched ears, body piercings and tattoos are some of the most common modifications made in today’s world.

According to National Geographic, some of the earliest tattoos were cuts with ash rubbed into them, which formed blackened scars.

“A tattoo is painful and bloody. Many ancient tribes, especially in Ethiopia, the Karo tribe, scar their chests to represent killing enemies from other tribes. In addition, women with scarred torsos and chests are considered particularly sensual and attractive,” Vince Hemingson, a writer and filmmaker who has studied body-modification practices worldwide, said.

Tattoos have evolved over many centuries.

Scott Jones from Tattoo Info stated that, in America, one can expect a basic price of  $80 to $100 an hour. Every shop is different; therefore, some shops don’t charge by the hour but rather by the piece.

According to Statistic Brain, about 1.65 billion dollars every year is spent on Americans getting tattoos. With the amount of money annually being spent on this type of modification, it is clear that tattoos are becoming more popular in society.

According to ABC News, a 2010 Pew Research study found that nearly 40 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 have tattoos, and of those, half have two to five tattoos.

“I always wanted a tattoo, and I’ve always liked the quote. I’m a shy person and it always reminds me to go get what I want in life,” senior Marina Schaefer said.

While the legal age to get inked at a parlor is 18, the study also found that parents support of tattooing is increasing.

While some young adults get a tattoo for pure beauty, others use a tattoo to commemorate a loved one or express something they are verypassionate about.

“I got my tattoo in memory of my dad who passed away the day after my 16th birthday” senior Dylan Nauert said.

Piercings

Piercings are body decorations that go back to ancient times.

According to The Quinnapiac Chronicle, “Students have played a huge role in the rising popularity of tattoo body modifications.”

About half of people in their 20’s have either a tattoo or a body piercing other than traditional earrings, according to a study published in June in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

As the demand for professional piercers minimizes, more Americans will realize just how easy it is to partake in this trend.

“My cartilage was easy; I just did it at a friends house. It took a little longer (than a standard ear piercing), and it hurt a little more, but it was well worth it,” Senior Nicole Packard said.

While most piercings are becoming more widely accepted, those who feel the need to delve into the excessive end of decoration still feel the heat.

Stretched Ears

BBC News Magazine writer Caroline McClatchey expressed that statistics are not easy to come by, but, as with tattoos, there is extensive anecdotal evidence that ear stretching is on the rise. More people are wearing them, Do It Yourself (DIY) kits are more widely available and there is a much greater choice of jewelry.

The three major purposes of body modifications according to Mark Z. Wilson have been linked back to tribal history, in war and for fashion and perceived beauty. Ear stretching has been popular for centuries, but this popularity has increased in Western culture in recent years.

Common “gauges” that were used during the ancient times consisted of bone, horn, wood and stone. Other organic materials that were found by the native people such as shells, teeth and claws were also used.

“People do it to be unique,” sophomore Berrie Lipp said.

Gauges are not limited to one specific size. Starting at 00g to any larger size desired, gauges are suitable to fit everyone’s aspirations.

“Most of my patients who’ve undergone repair of their stretched earlobes have had it done to improve their job prospects — what works for an interview at a tattoo parlor may not be appropriate when applying for a managerial position,” AnthonyYoun from CNN News said.

The Social Stigma

With social interaction comes social judgement. Whether this be the workplace, in the classroom or even out to dinner on a Friday night, a person’s intital first impression is something that often sticks. A person with body modifications can say that this is often where the trouble begins.

With the work force being very competitive, companies have made strict guidelines of what exactly their employees looks, personality and skills need to be in order to acquire the job.

For an example, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Mike Jeffries publically said, “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends.”

Thus, many teenagers are not applicable for a job at Abercrombie & Fitch.

“[If declined a job, it would feel] Unfair. You should not be judged on appearance rather your character,” senior Jaumaureo Philips said.

The classroom is no different than the real world, it is a place of competition where first impressions are almost as important as your grade’s final outcome. This presents an issue for all who appear to be different, with discriminations being cast with the impression that these differences make one incapable of tasks.

“It could be the simplest little thing, and you’re not accepted by societies standards,” senior Alex Stuart said.

In attempt to get additional feedback on why retail stores and restaurants forbid hiring employees with modifications, the interviews were inconclusive.

While the current wave of modifiers may all have a different purpose for their modification, one thing is certain: discrimination is certainly running rampant. More and more companies are barring employees with these modifications, and some schools present the idea that different isn’t always for the best.

“It’s unequal treatment entirely; it’s like I’m less qualified solely based on looks and not on my abilities,” Senior Danny Ratliff said.

How FAR is TOO FAR?

While body modifications are a way of separating style and look from one modified individul to the next some modifications are thought to be taken too far.

According to CNN News, Anthony Youn said “Today, thousands of people are getting their bodies modified in all sorts of bizarre and unusual ways. Tattoos are just the tip of the iceberg for people interested in body modification, referred to as ‘body mutilation’ by detractors. People called “body modifcation artists” perform these unconventional  surgical procedures, typically on younger clients. These treatments range from the simple, such as implanting metal bolts on a person’s neck, to the extreme, such as creating ridges under a persons skin in order to make them look like a lizard”

The outward appearance of someone can simply be made up of many modifications with todays advances in surgery.