Workplace Dress Code

When it comes to tattoos and body piercings in the workplace, employers often have policies in place as a part of their dress code. It is often assumed by employees that they have a right to show off their body modification in the workplace. However, unless they are marks of religious or racial expression they are not actually protected by discrimination laws. That means that your employer has the right to have you remove or hide body modifications in the workplace.

I have a friend who actually lost her job because she refused to take out some facial piercings at work. This really is a situation I cannot understand. Think of it this way. If you have body modifications to express your own opinion then that is fine, but when you are on your employer's time you are there to express THEM! The staff are often the first impression so it is up to them to choose what impression that is. This might mean they want you to be smart and clean and it may mean no visible body piercings and tattoos. That is their right as your employer, this is their business. If you cannot put aside your own preferences for 8 hours a day then it makes you very narrow minded!

I have another friend who is so Goth it is not even funny! She has tattoos, piercings, jet black hair and wears pale make-up. Want to know what her job is? She is the receptionist at a very posh legal firm! How does she do it? Simple. When at work she wears neutral make-up. Takes out her facial piercings, wears long sleeves and put her hair in a fancy up do. She meets her boss's expectations and then does her own thing in her own time. Is she selling out? I don't think so. I think she is being a responsible adult!

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The rise in popularity of body modification

MIAMI BEACH, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Tattoo artist William Coy dips the tattoo needle into black ink as he works on a tattoo at the Tattoos by Lou studio on September 7, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. The Food and Drug Administration continues to look into tattoo inks to find out the chemical composition of the inks and how they break down in the body, the short-term and long-term safety of pigments used in tattoo inks and how the body responds to the interaction of light with the inks. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

One incredibly odd facet of our society's customs is the fact that more and more people are becoming interested in body modification.

One of the more general kinds of body modification is of course tattooing. Tattooing has been around for centuries and it is getting more and more popular as time marches on. One of the motives for this amplification in popularity is owing to TV shows that have made tattoos more popular. Citizens from varying backgrounds are acquiring tattoos of late. In history, tattoos were set aside for unambiguous societal groupings. This isn’t the scenario any longer and the public are getting tattoos merely for the reason that it is a trendy craze and it has developed into something which is accepted by modern society.

Additional acute types of body modification include branding. This is when someone is branded, usually this involves an incredibly searing metal tool that is heated to a great temperature and that utensil is put on the skin for a number of seconds to bring about a serious scald. When the blister mends it leaves behind an elevated wound of a specific drawing that the person decided on. This exact kind of body modification is reasonably hazardous as scalds can quickly develop an infection.

An additional kind of body modification is known as "gauging". It begins with a person basically having their ears pierced as normal. Then a bigger contrivance is placed in the opening each week until the aperture widens up to 2 inches in girth.

No matter what variety of bodymodification you choose, whether it is a tattoo or obtaining metal apparatus rooted beneath your skin, the motives are on the whole of an extremely private nature. Even though it’s turning out to be to a greater extent more common to observe citizens with bizarre body modifications loads of these body modifications are in spite of everything are quite an anathema. The solitary exemption would be getting a tattoo which is becoming a lot more popular.

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No Photoshop Required

Body Image (Photo credit: Vlture.)

Women today are hung up on body image. Many resort to cosmetic surgery and other types of body modification, but it needn't be that way! Regardless of your present shape or size you should have a healthy body image. In the end, this is actually the body that will get you through your days. The great side-effect of a sound body image is that this enables you to be sensible regarding your entire body as well as your overall health helping you to choose the best path for you personally when it comes to eating habits, physical exercise as well as the proper clothing options.

Recognize Inner Beauty - You're a fantastic individual, you cherish other people and demonstrate it. You are doing things for people, you're proficient at your job, and value all your family members. Nearly anything you accomplish that is a good thing, be aware of it, acknowledge it and rejoice it.

Accentuate External Beauty - Dress in clothes that suits your body in shades that flatter your skin tone. Properly fitted clothes in the appropriate colors could make you really feel great, and other people will observe your radiant skin, eyes and grin.

Quit Comparing - When you start out comparing yourself to other people you're generally destined to be much more critical of yourself which is only a straight down spiral. Simply do not allow yourself approval for doing that any longer. It's not fair to yourself, or other people.

Think Constructive Thoughts - Whenever a negative thought springs to your mind promptly transform it into a constructive by shifting the language. It will require practice to achieve this, but ultimately it'll turn out to be natural. It's incredible what exercising positive thinking can do to your whole lifestyle.

Smile - This might seem to be basic but beaming even if you're not really that content will in fact have you feeling delighted. Grin using your face along with your eyes, and imagine happy things as you're doing it, and before very long, you'll come to feel as great as you appear.

Women really can develop a healthy self image if they focus on these steps, without having to resort to extreme body modification like cosmetic surgeries.

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Tattoos Can Be Feminine

English: Freehand cherry blossoms and koi fish. Design and tattoo by Joey Pang (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Feminine tattoo designs will look great and filled with meaning if they're generally small, and express a symbolic meaning towards the individual or wearer of the tattoos. Tattoos are long lasting marks produced by inserting tattoo ink in to the layers of epidermis to alter the pigment for decorative or other motives. Tattooing has been used throughout history and many of the ancient tribes and societies held the belief that body art had magical properties which could protect the bearer from evil spirits and also help to boost the personality and character of the individual. The permanent nature of this type of body modification means that selecting an appropriate design which will be feminine and look good is essential as it will last for your entire life.

These days, feminine style tattoos are used by women not for the magical properties, but for decorative purposes. Some women choose to do so to make them more sexually attractive, with some even choosing symbols of fertility or love. It is not uncommon for women to bear a mark representing their lover, be it their name, initials or some sort of symbolic representation. Contrary to popular belief, tattoos are rarely a symbol of rebellion but instead are a mark of the woman boosting her own self confidence. There are so many different styles of tattoos available on the market today, so it is important to consider all options. This is going to be more than just a passing trend, it is a permanent body modification.

When thinking about the 'rules' for feminine tattoos for women then the first must be to choose small designs which look much nicer on women. The female form is naturally smaller , softer and more delicate than the male which means that smaller designs will look much better. Most women who are seeking feminine body art opt for flowers or hearts sometimes in a stylized or tribal version. It is important also to use a really good tattoo artist who can understand the more girly look you are hoping to achieve. This will improve the overall appearance of the tattoo. Like all types of body modification, a tattoo requires research and consideration before taking the plunge.

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Can You Breastfeed With Pierced Nipples?

An interesting topic of conversation arose while my girlfriends and I were enjoying out regualr Sunday brunch! My friend Katie, just had a baby. What's so interesting about that? Well, the conversation revolved around whether or not her pierced nipples were an issue. It's something I had never thought about before, but once it came up we were all bombarding her with a million and one silly questions. I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I blurted out the classic...

"When you take out the rings, does milk leak out of the holes?"

Thankfully for us, Katie was not phased and answered our questions without any embarassment, but I thought I'd share my new found knowledge with you guys so you never have to look as silly as I did!

The short answer is that NO nipple piercing does not mean you cannot breastfeed. Katie pointed out something that made a lot of sense to me. She said that since breast feeding has been around since the dawn of time and body modification – including nipple piercing – has a lengthy history, then surely the two must be compatible otherwise it would have evolved as a male only adornment! With that being said, no piercer will perform the piercing on a pregnant lady or a lady who is breastfeeding. In fact, Katie said that she was told at the time of her piercings that it's best not to breastfeed for at least a year afterwards to ensure it is properly healed. She has had her nipple rings for about 4 years now so it was not an issue for her personally.

So here are the facts according to Katie:

"Lot's of people told me all sorts of horror stories about breastfeeding with pierced nipples, but most were untrue,so only concern yourself with fact! In most cases, the piercings have no effect on your ability to breastfeed. Some mothers even say it increases the flow of milk making nursing easier. I have heard that some mothers keep their jewelry in while feeding, so long as they wear barbells. However, I personally prefer to take my barbells out and clean the area before each feeding. It's extra work, but my baby is more important and I'd never forgive myself if she were to choke on my jewelry because it came out during a feed."

So there you have it, while there will always be a few exceptions, most people successfully breastfeed with nipple piercings. And in case you are wondering... NO – the milk doesn't leak out of the holes!!

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What Do Body Piercings Say About You?

We hear all the time that tattoos often carry deeper meanings. They are chosen to represent a certain thing or to commemorate an event or achievement, but what about body piercings? What do they represent? Personally I have always chosen piercings the way I have chosen clothes or hairstyles, for how they look, but thinking about the deeper meanings assigned to tattoos has made me wonder if certain body piercings have perceived meanings.

My research all points to body piercings having no particular meaning in western culture although in history they had more significant meanings. For example, septum piercings were popular among warriors of various cultures because it looked fierce. It was common for the hole to be stretched to accommodate a bone or tusk. Other piercings originally had functional uses. For example, there is evidence to suggest that the Prince Albert piercing came about around 1825 when the fashion was for men to wear tight pants. In order to avoid an unsightly bulge, the men would have the piercing done so that the penis could be hooked to one side by way of a “dressing ring”. From the 16^th century, Indian women wear a Nath in the left nostril because this area is associated with the reproductive organs in Ayuvedra Medicine and the piercing is thought to make childbirth and menstruation easier. The piercing is therefore performed as a coming of age ritual. Then of course there are the various African tribes for whom lip and ear piercing and stretching are ritual and symbolic in nature.

So in short, while many body piercings may have originated for a certain purpose or as a particular symbol, in today's Western society they are chosen mainly for aesthetic appeal.