as a way of belonging. As much as both tattooing and piercing are considered to be a way of people defining their identity, experts believe there is a difference between them. Tattooing is usually more a symbol of identity or inclusion, but piercing always has a sexual aspect to it, whether it be a woman making herself more appealing from piercing her ears, to a male having his penis pierced at the tip to achieve a greater sensitivity during sexual activity, “Tattooing always seemed to be an identification mark (among members of special corps, prisoners, mafiosi, etc.). Piercing is said to be related to sex: Everybody pierced has a sexual motive. There are certain body parts where you get a sensation during sex that’s indescribable unless you have the jewelry in place. Even so, there is apparently more to it than just increased pleasure. Tattooing and piercing seem to help construct an identity,” (Blonsky 1).
Tattoos and piercings have steadily gained in popularity among adolescents ever since Madonna pierced her navel. The proliferation of teens with piercings and tattoos, many of them as young as 11 or 12 say experts, has caused alarm among parents. However, the research expresses that as long as health risks like possible infection are addressed, tattooing and piercing are just one normal outlet of the adolescent trying to forge their own identity in a world in which they are just beginning to understand the norms and inner-workings. Often, many teens do it for the look because they believe it makes them fit in with many of their peers also doing the same thing. At other times they are doing it to assert their independence and their ability to be themselves. Whatever the reason, experts warn that overreaction by parents is the worst possible thing. Calmly discussing the issue and provided health risk information is the best route according to those in the child psychology field, “Based on nationwide evidence,...