Piercing Kids' Ears: I Can't Pierce My Daughter's Ears – It's Not My Choice! by Brittany Moffatt

Opinion
6 years ago

Piercing Kids' Ears: I Can't Pierce My Daughter's Ears –  It's Not My Choice!

I was shocked by several people at my daughter's first birthday party that asked me if I was going to "pierce her ears." I wanted to say, "Seriously, is that still a thing?" And roll my eyes and walk away. However, I simply stated, "I cannot pierce my daughter's ears, because it's not my choice."

When my husband and I feel she is old enough to consent to it herself and understands the permanence of it we will allow her to get her ears pierced. Until then, not my body equals not my choice.

This falls directly in line with everything we're seeing right now about survivors and assault. The hashtag #metoo is about victims claiming their bodies as their own. We as a society need to respect others’ bodies and understand the ramifications of forcing "our choice" onto them.

To some this may seem like an overreaction, but we need to restructure our thinking in order to change.

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Mike Prochaska
Yes I couldn't agree more.
It should be kids choice
Elisa Schmitz
In my mother’s Puerto Rican culture, baby girls have their ears pierced as infants. So I’ve had my ears pierced since I was two months old, by my pediatrician. When I had my twin daughters, I waited until they made the decision. The first one asked at age 5, then they agreed at around age 6, so we got it done. Pretty young to be making a decision like that, but they did it together and it was their choice. Now, as teens, I can’t seem to get them to stop with the piercings, LOL! But again, I feel it’s their bodies, their choice. Thank you for the thought provoking post! 💗 Brittany Moffatt Mike Prochaska
Mike Prochaska
Good point I didn't think about it culturely until you brought that up.
Good point
Ann Marie Patitucci
Yes! I don't have daughters myself, but I have always felt this way! I got my own ears pierced when I was 5 because I asked if I could. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this, Brittany Moffatt !

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