Page 43 - 2005.Millard.North

By Lauren Case

Teens gof faffoos and piel'eings as a way o£ expl'essing fhernselves.
In past generations, tattoos tattoo of a biohazard on her reason was perhaps that some
and piercings were associated lower back. parents weren't aware of the
with the rebels in society. In "My mom was in the piercing or tattoo until it was
today's generation, tattoos and hospital, so whenever I went to made a permanent thing on their
piercings were thought of in a see her, the symbol of the body.
different way. They were able biohazard stuck out to me," "My parents didn't know
to put people's feelings into Moore said. about me getting my tongue
words better then the person Some students may have pierced. I told them about it
might be able to. Tattoos and thought that by getting a tattoo almost a month after I got it,
piercings were thought of as an or piercing, they might have lost they freaked and told me to take
art form and a way of self- the respect from their peers, but it out," sophomore Jodi Junk
expression. that was not always the case. said.
"I got my piercings for the "After I told people why I Junk said that her parents
same reason people wear the got my tattoo I got a lot more were supportive for most of her
clothes they wear; I like the way respect," Moore said. piercings, but they agreed that
they look," sophomore Sean While many had a tattoo or she had too many on her ears
Prather said. piercing, others vowed that they and didn't like her tongue being
For other students, the would never get one. Freshman pierced.
reason to get a tattoo or piercing Brian Frahm said that he Whether getting a tattoo or
was for an emotional reason wouldn't ever get a tattoo piercing was for a physical or
rather than a physical reason. A because he didn't like the way emotional reason, and whether
tattoo for some symboli zed they looked. parents approval was there or
something big going on in their Parents' support was not not, students continued to get
life. always present for students who "body art" as a way of self-
Senior Suzy Moore got a chose to get body art. One expression.

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Body Art~