by Bethan Jones

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: June 04, 2009

As much as I love my parents they don't understand why I get mods. Every time I go home with a new piercing or tattoo I'm met with a rolling of the eyes; catch a 'it's just a phase' look passing across my mother's face; endure a lecture from my father about it's your body, you can do what you want but why do you do that? I believe this is a common occurrence within the modded community, and sometimes it is hard to explain why you get mods. Not everyone will understand the way that it can transform the way you feel about yourself, making you much more confident than you were. Not everyone will understand the desire to get more and more mods and piercings.

And almost everyone will tell me it's a bad idea to show them when I'm applying for a job.

Whenever I go for an interview I'm met with the usual helpful advice from my parents; take your piercings out, don't dye your hair, don't show your tattoos. Somehow my appearance becomes more important than my ability to do the job. They may be right; while body modifications are becoming more and more common there is still a stigma around them in some circles. A lot of people still have the mentality that tattoos, especially, are only found on criminals therefore if you have a tattoo you can't be trusted. But body modifications are becoming more and more common and attitudes are slowly but surely changing. Are my parents right to tell me to take them out and cover them up; to hide a fundamental part of myself for fear I'll suffer discrimination in the work place?

I've always believed that first impressions, while they do matter, can be overturned; I've met several people who have made a brilliant first impression on me, yet turned out to be complete idiots, and vice versa. I believe that if a person can do a job properly then it shouldn't matter what they look like. I can understand why modifications may not be appropriate for the job itself, but in the interview they shouldn't matter.

A lot of people will argue that they will. Tattoos and piercings will hinder your chances of success at interview; they're a remnant of gang culture; they'll make you look like an outsider and a rebel; they'll prevent you from reaching the higher levels of your chosen profession. Tattoos and piercings aren't accepted by the general public and there's no way you'll get a job if you're modified.

I disagree with that. When I attend job interviews I leave my piercings in, keep my hair dyed my hair black and purple, and show my tattoos.

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