Some family members have decided they are going to pierce their daughter’s ears at one year old. I was asked if I do that, to which I of course said no. The woman then went on to say that it was okay as she had checked with Claire’s, and they do it. To get pierced at Claire’s is kind of like taking your wife to Mc Donalds on your anniversary. The staff don’t know how to deal with that shit. No offence Claire’s staff, and indeed all staff who pierce ears with guns at salons and crap – but you guys should not be doing that stuff.. Especially not when I hear you are using bags of ice from local cafe’s to numb an ear where the “gun got stuck”.
Anyways, I told the mom my dismay that they were even thinking of piercing her ears when she cannot consent to it, which of course wasn’t taken in a serious way.
And I talked to the father of the child today, and I was dead serious when I said I do not like the notion of what they are considering one bit. He laughed and told me he had expected me to be the last person to say that, which I find quite insulting to my intelligence. The fact that I like piercings does not mean I just condone any-fu*kin-thing to do with piercing. I would not condone slapping some rope around a baby and bungeeing it down a bridge either, although it looks crazy fun.
Anyways, I understand that it’s one of those topics that it’s easy to say “aaah, so whaaat, it’s just ear piercings, she can take them out if she doesn’t want them when she’s older”, but frankly – that doesn’t sell me one bit. I don’t like any kind of bodily distortion where the defending party is unable to consent for one reason or another. Circumcising baby boys (or girls) – not okay. Piercing baby’s lobes – not okay.
If you read this and you are those people I speak of (and please read this next sentence without a put on air of drama) – know that I fail to mention your names because I am disgraced by what you are doing. It flat out embarrasses me that you put your child through pain and potential infections she cannot consent to deal with, for highly vain reasons that only you yourselves “benefit” from.
Euch.
August 13, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Amen. But the mothers who consider doing this generally see their kids as accessories themselves, so why not decorate the child as such? They don’t have ‘daughters’, they have dollies to dress up. Ugh. Makes me cranky.
August 14, 2008 at 9:29 am
Thanks for the feedback friend. I am going to speak more to them, I am hoping a shaming tactic might change their minds (my sister and I have been able to at least make them think about it and postpone it so far). People man, sometimes they just ain’t right.. – Alex
November 12, 2008 at 12:30 am
So agreeing on that one!!