In today’s society, a small piece of jewelry on someone’s face, body, or ear can entirely change the way someone is perceived. Whether it’s a nose ring, belly button piercing, or multiple hoops dangling from their ears can cause someone to be labeled as “obnoxious” or “trashy” before their personality is even revealed. 

This idea of unusual piercings being “trashy” comes from a number of associations with cultures that have been viewed in a similar fashion; rebellious, immodest, cheap, attention seeking. Examples include Y2K, and punk culture as well as alternative, rap, and hip hop music genres. Piercings that are now considered “trashy,” were usually brought up and popularized in cultures that were also negatively viewed, putting the same stereotype on piercings.

However, this stereotype could not be further from the truth. Today, piercings are more common than ever, and can be seen on many different types of people. This is because rather than being “attention seeking” or “obnoxious” they are truly just a form of self-expression. Something to spark creatively, fashion, and individualism. They deserve to be recognized as what they are, not judged based on an out-dated, unfair stereotype.

This conversation of how piercings affect how someone is seen is a part of a bigger picture as well. Tattoos, colored hair, bold makeup and so many more characteristics are often placed into different stereotypes that place people into groups based solely off their appearance. 

Judging people based on their looks is a habit across society that needs to be recognized and adjusted. No one deserves to be placed into a stereotype, whether it does or does not apply to them, because of something so small, and so insignificant to who they are on the inside.

Written by junior Carly Vieira. Edited by staff writers for the Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.