To think that most women have pierced ears?

I don't, but I did have them done when I was about 11 and then again at 14 but they were quite sore and I just let them close up. Never missed having them pierced. My daughter has hers done twice.

From my scientifically valid study of DD's friends (13/14) it's a mix. They either have none or 2/3 per ear (not allowed top of ear or the middle bit at school so they don't have that). DD has two- had her first at 10 and second at 13. I think it's much less of a rite of passage than it was when I was young (I literally begged constantly from about 7 and was finally allowed at 13).

I had 7 piercings in my teen years and now have none as they all closed up.
Google says this which is interesting:

While exact, recent figures vary, estimates suggest close to half of all UK women have pierced ears, with one source citing just under 50% and data from around 2008 showing nearly 50% of young women (16-24) had piercings (including non-earlobe ones), with earlobes being the most common. Earlobe piercings are considered the classic and most popular type of piercing for women in the UK.

I'm in my 40s and don't have pierced ears. I wanted them when I was about 9 or 10, and some of my friends were being allowed to do it, but my parents thought I was too young. Later I didn't want them after all. I remember having a teacher when I was about 12 who used to wear a variety of big chunky earrings every day (which I didn't really like) and her mentioning that she felt she had to wear them because she didn't like the look of the empty holes on days she didn't. Somehow that really resonated with me as I didn't like the empty holes either, but the idea of committing yourself to have to bother with earrings every single day didn't appeal, and still doesn't.

I attempted to have them done aged 10 but my ears didn't react well to the piercings and I gave up and let the holes close up. They kept getting infected and sore.

I don't and not does my mum. Both 50+ so I fit with your theory.

It's funny, I'm not squeamish about many things but I just could never deal with the idea of putting holes in my body and hanging stuff off them. The trend for spreaders (is that what they're called? Where they have big rings that make the hole massive?) in recent years actually makes me nauseous.

I’ve never had my ears pierced and neither has my DD, who is now in her 20s. Neither of us has ever remotely wanted to. I’m honestly not sure how many of my friends and their daughters have pierced ears… I think it’s a minority.

I had them pierced at 11 but didn’t like the feel of wearing them so let them close up. I’d been asking for years but my mum wouldn’t let me until I was old enough to clean and change them myself.

My 5 year old has been asking to have hers done recently and I’m unsure about it. Mostly because I know she will probably mess with them after they’re done. My 8 year old doesn’t want hers done.

Most women I know have their ears pierced. I had mine pierced when I was about 7. It was more usual on children then I think, and might be partly cultural (my parents are Indian.) But now, I look at my 7 year old DD and her perfect little ears and delicate skin and the idea of doing it feels so weird and somewhat akin to mutilation. If she wants to do it as a 16 year old, that is her decision, but I could never make that choice for her.

I had mine done when i was 12. I remember begging my mum for years, I was the last of my friends and she made me wait. After I had them done, I hated them. I was too squeamish to change them, and I didn’t like how they looked. As an adult I can see that I only wanted them done because it was a sign of maturity and I felt babyish compared to my friends, I don’t think I’d ever thought about what it would look or feel like.

I think it must have been about two months before I took them out and left them out, and I’ve never wanted to get them done again as an adult. I don’t like to wear much jewellery anyway (which doesn’t fit with the rest of my style, I always wear makeup and like to be nicely dressed, and care a lot about how I look) and honestly, nobody notices. When it’s come up in conversation people are always surprised I don’t have them pierced.

I’d imagine that statistically you’re right that more women do than don’t. But I don’t think it’s particularly unusual not to.

Yes, most women have pierced ears because ear piercing is a common cultural and social practice in many parts of the world, often done at a young age. It is widely accepted as a form of personal adornment, although some women choose not to have pierced ears for personal or cultural reasons.

Mine were done in 1967 when I was 14 and I had second piercings done a few years later. All my friends have pierced ears.

Had them done as a kid but haven't worn earrings in 30+ years. I expect they've healed up long since. I do have a nose piercing though.

Of around 30-40 family/friends/colleagues who are women that I can think of off the top of my head, only one doesn’t have her ears pierced. Even in the early 90s when I got mine done at age 13, it wasn’t thought of as “common” (which tattoos were at that point, for example).

Anyone else going to be staring at the ears of everyone they meet today?🤣

I don't. I agree that parents viewed it as "common", but also I never wanted it. I could never see the point of making holes where holes weren't meant to be!

I had them done when I was about 15. Stopped wearing earrings in my 40s I think and the holes closed up. I'm late 50s now and putting holes in yourself to hang jewellery from just seems odd. I wear necklaces - I like them but that's all really.

I quite like the look of multiple ear piercings but not for me.

I am 51 and don't have pierced ears. Neither does my sister who is 49. Our dad was very strict/religious and said we had to wait until we were adults. He disapproved generally though of anything "glamorous" - my mum only had hers done when she was nearly 40 and he moaned when he realised though ironically it took him weeks to notice.

By 18 it was more rebellious not to have them done so neither of us did. Though I have a navel piercing and also had a tongue piercing for a few years.

I actually love jewellery and always wear a necklace, bracelet and rings so I often think I'm the sort of person who would enjoy earrings. So I might still have them done one day. My daughter is 11 and likes the idea of earrings but is phobic about needles so says she's not having hers done. We said she could if she wanted once she'd left primary but entirely up to her. We've kind of got a deal that if she decides to go for it then I will have mine done at the same time in solidarity!

The only other woman I can think of who didn't have pierced ears was my sister in law. She had epilepsy as a child and her parents were worried about her ears tearing if she had a fit. She grew out of having fits by her mid 20s but "couldn't be bothered" after that.

I pierced my own when I was 13 with a needle from my mums sewing kit 😀

Whilst i think most day there are lots that don’t or women who have them pierced and only wear earrings when going out somewhere so might look like they don’t. I don’t pay attention. My dad wasn’t bothered and my mum had 2 lobe piercings (she would be in her 70s so going back 50 years) both my grans wore earrings too so i got mine done at 8 & a 2nd set at 11. Got a helix at 15 which was “fashion” for a bit but never wear it now. Had a 3rd set at 16 & pierced wonky so took them out & they healed up. Never wore earrings for years thanks to my job then having kids but could still open my 2nd so started to wear 2 pairs. I’m 41 now & decided at 40’ to get my 3rd ones redone when my daughter got her helix but only got them done a few weeks ago. Not sure if i like them or will keep them in i’ll see how they heel but i don’t care what others think whether common or not. My dad actually took me at 17 to get my tattoo (they didn’t id me) hate that though &’hopefully my kids won’t get one.

one daughter wears one set of earrings which she asked for at 7 other daughter had hers done at 6 & at 15 now has 2 lobes, helix and navel. She wants 3Rd lobes at 16 & some other ear ones - her ears, her choice at 16 if she uses her own money.

i know someone who got their nose pierced at 58 as had always wanted it but wasn’t allowed when younger & felt “judged” but hit that age and finally thought bugger it! I don’t think theres a right or wrong so if you want them done go get them otherwise continue as you are - doubt anyone will notice either way.

I’m mid 40s. My mum had mine pierced when I was 3. 🙄 I chose not to wear them once I got older, about 12, and I’ve never worn them since as I don’t like how they look or feel. My daughters are 18 and 16 and don’t want their ears pierced. Amongst my female friends, about half have their ears pierced.

We weren’t allowed, same time period and reason (not my dad particularly, just general family POV).

But when I was 15 I just went and did it. My mum went from horrified to liking them very quickly, and had her own done a few months later, followed by my glamorous grandma (who had an enormous collection of very chic clip-ons, and I think fancied the idea of starting again with a different type of jewellery!).

I let mine close up again for a couple of decades, then had them redone when I was 50, and I really enjoy having the option now of wearing earrings whenever I want to.

My sister had her ears done when she was about 6 or 7. They heeled up quite quickly afterwards. I took her to have them redone as 50th birthday present as she said she had always wanted them redone but just never got around to it. She wears earrings pretty regularly now.

I have earrings in all the time. I wear titanium ones with flat back or screw on balls. It means I can sleep on them without them being uncomfortable so I just have the same ones in for months