Two news stories got my attention this week. At least one of them was carried by national carriers.
Nosy People:
A woman called 911 to report child abuse in a national department store chain. Seems a child was getting her ears pierced and the Nosy Lady took exception to this and called the law. The details are available here.
The other side of the story can be found here.
The first thing that went through my mind after reading the start of all this was, (other than the fact that after seeing a photo, there was no debate over whether abuse would ever be an issue in a certain household...if you know me, write and I'll give you my full thoughts) has this person never been to a barber? Or a styling salon? I've been in both and you would have thought major murder was going on, only to find out a child's hair was getting cut.
I have seen the grossest displays of bodily fluid spewage during a haircut. Not to mention leaving with bleeding ears, and ducking thrown items (some sharp, if the kid got them away from the stylist).
WHY now? What triggered this desire to become indignant? Bad meds? GOOD meds? I worry that I may cross paths with a psychotic mammoth some day. And scientists tell me they are extinct. I'm not so sure.
Mods:
This is number two. I have no problem with body mods. I appreciate good ink and steel.
However, I do know how "the work place" views these things. In most corporate environments, especially where people meet customers, tattoos showing is a major "no-no". Does it hurt your ability to perform your job? Are you less of an accountant, draftsperson, computer programmer...? No.
Does it turn off customers and potentially hurt the bottom line of your employer? Very much so. When you deal with the public, anything and everything you present to them, visually or otherwise, reflects on the company.
Most customers meeting a person in higher standing in a company, have expectations as to what they are going to be presented. They expect a professional looking, and behaving, person to care for their needs. Anything less, bad juju.
Having had an earring since the '70's, I could tell this person a thing or two about perception. Before they became fashionable, I was constantly questioned about whether I was a sailor, biker, drug dealer, or gay (back then, before PC, they wanted to know if I was queer).
Body mods and ink are becoming more and more mainstream. However, public opinion is still way behind the fads. Bikers are still trying to live down the "outlaw" image started in the 50's. To this day, if 10 or 15 Harley's roll into a donut or coffee shop, half the clientele take off.
And lets face it, you could be a Harvard scholar, but if you walk into an interview for bank manager wearing short, T shirt and sandals, guess what? You. Ain't. Getting. Hired.
Perception.
So, you have full-sleeve-tats and you walk in for an interview showing all your ink, you are in for trouble unless you want a job turning a wrench in the back of a mechanic shop.
I wonder, mainly because it doesn't mention this in the article, what would happen if he walked in wearing a long sleeve shirt? Probably wouldn't make much difference for him. The photo that ran with the printed article shows his hands covered in ink as well. Hard to hide that.
But, one of our supervisors at work always wore long sleeve shirts. Even on the hottest days. One Saturday he came in in a T shirt and we knew why. He had full sleeves. He kept them covered to keep his job. Until that day (years after he started) no one knew.
Funny. He wasn't "discriminated" against. He looked professional in long sleeve shirts, and no one knew what secrets he had up his sleeves. He made his choices and learned to live with them. By the way, he is still on his way up the ladder. And still wearing long sleeve shirts.
Living (with your choices) happens.
Walmart shouldn't be piercing childrens' ears of any age unless they are going to do it right. When you pierce a child's ears you have TWO attendants who pierce at the same time. That way you don't end up with only one ear pierced and a child screaming. That's how the people in the kiosks at the mall do it. That's how my daughter had her first holes done and that's how she had her first holds re-done, too, after they closed.
Posted by: Chelle | July 07, 2007 at 06:00 PM
A co-worker of WS's (someoe he has worked with for about 15 yrears - at 3 different shops) always wears long sleaves that hide his tats.
Funny, your statement "To this day, if 10 or 15 Harley's roll into a donut or coffee shop, half the clientele take off." Around these parts, it is so common no one has any reaction besides looking at the bikes. Of course, the whole state contends with Bike Week, so seeing only a dozen or 20 doesn't cause any anxiety.
Posted by: Bogie | July 08, 2007 at 05:13 AM