To think it's disgraceful to pierce little boys' ears?

[butterybiscuitbass]

I bumped into a really nice neighbour recently and to my surprise she'd had her sweet, placid, slightly chubby 5 year old son's ear pierced. I thought 'shame', then 'why?' then 'how cruel, I bet that really hurt'. Usually boys with pierced ears look like a proper handful and it's all too easy to adopt a prejudice about ear piercing and behavioural problems going hand in hand, thus marking that child out to be a wrong 'un. I actually think some parents want this image for their child for whatever reason. I could go on. This is surely a controversial one so come on sock it to me, are there any mums out there who have maimed their son in this way, and for what reason?

I think its all about the mother ( or parent) when a young child gets a piercing. The ones I know always insist that their child 'really wanted it' - but then even so - they could say NO to the child! ( I suspect they don't say no because they want it more than the child does)

I just don't understand why any parents would want their child to be pierced anywhere!

To everyone who's going all class/ gender war on my ass, ouryve, AnaisB et al, my interest is what would motivate a parent to do that- basically inflict physical injury because that's what it is- on a child too young to consent, and in particular why might some of them be trying to court a tough image for their child? After all it is a statement which clearly is looking for a response, which could result in their child being wrongly stereotyped- there I hope I put that a bit better than before. Harsh light of day is usually better than posting after a couple of glasses !

Usually boys with pierced ears look like a proper handful and it's all too easy to adopt a prejudice about ear piercing and behavioural problems going hand in hand, thus marking that child out to be a wrong 'un.

OP - with a statement like that, I would say the problem soundly lies with you and anyone else who writes a child off soley based on appearances.

I'm not keen on ear piercings on little kids, but honestly...I can't see it's the worst thing they'll ever have to contend with.

YABU, it's barbaric for both boys and girls. I hate seeing kids with pierced ears, it looks ridiculous. Fine when you're an adult and can decide for yourself. My DSD's mum had DSD's ears pierced when she was a baby, DH went absolutely apeshit at her, she couldn't see the problem though.

I had my ears pierced for my 6th birthday, it was what I wanted. But I was 6! My 6 year old tells me she wants a dirt bike for her birthday doesn't mean I'll actually buy her one. My ears caused me nothing but problems for years. Turns out I'm allergic to nickel, which is common in most cheap earrings. My ears used to balloon to twice their size after a few hours of wearing earrings. I stopped wearing earrings when I was about 16 because I was so sick of looking like Shrek.

Ok, point taken haters, enough already. the fact still remains that those children are still being set up by their parents for judgment by nasty bigots like me (clearly I am). Why do they do it?

Maybe they don't give a flying fuck what you think?

And why should theypictish? Or you for that matter. It is what the child thinks and feels that matters and they are the victim here as my friend the lawyer, see above, will contest.

Maybe they assume that there are that many small minded people in the world?
Or they don't read mumsnet where every single aspect of someone's life/appearance/name/ etc is judged?

"Victim"?

Of an ear piercing?

Really?

eureka!

I don't know anyone in rl who gives a shit

Maybe they care less about what people think than you.

Maybe they don't realise how they are being judged.

Maybe they like the way it looks.

Maybe they don't to set an example of avoiding something you want to do for fear of censure.

I think that people DO judge and it is not a good thing but it is a thing that happens. You do often see ear pierced little boys with shaved heads with a Dad who looks exactly the same and it's a bit .

I wish people would not do this to small children.

Hate it too. And on little girls as well. Think it's dangerous as well as earring could catch on clothing etc.

I was having my nails done recently and a boy of about 11 was in to have his ears pierced- the lady doing my nails said he was back in because last time they had done the wrong ear- apparently one side is the 'gay ' side--WTAF

I will say, to all those saying, 'Who judges like this?', well, maybe you don't, fantastic! But IME, see above, there really are those that do and I do agree it doesn't help the child one iota.

OP, it is no worse than having a girls ears pierced. My dd can't have hers done until she is 14 both me and dh believe this is soon enough.
It's each to their own and up to the parents.
I don't like seeing dc crying in Claire's though.

OMG there is even more pearl clutching than when I last looked in.
What an utterly facile subject to get het up about.

My 11yo DD had her ears pierced at the beginning of the holidays (before she goes to Secondary).
Her choice. She had asked for ages but couldn't have them done at Junior School because they don't let the pupils wear earrings in school.

My 13 yo DS can have whatever he likes to have pierced when he's 16 but not before.
He went through a 'phase' when he was in Yr 6 of wanting it done because some of his friends had, but no mention since.
(I did give him £40 when DD had hers done because that's what I paid for her ear-piercing. He was with that)

I personally don't like boys with piercings.

What other people choose for their children is down to them.

Tries and fails to see the problem.

70isalimit Why would you treat your son and daughter differently? That policy is going to lead to major resentment somewhere down the line.

Its ok for your daughter but not your son? Its just a tiny hole in his ear, mine only had his in for a few years before he got bored of it.

I only have boys but I would treat boys and girls the same.

My youngest DS has asked to have his ears pierced for a couple of years now, but he is 6. I have told him, like I would have told a daughter, that he has to wait till he is 13.

I don't like piercings on ones so young, but I think once they are teenagers they are old enough to decide for themselves and to take care of them properly.

Who knows if DS will still want one then, but if he does he can get it done. I wonder if he will suddenly become a "proper handful" if he does get it done?

Moomin my son is my son and my daughter is my daughter.

I'm probably a bit more old school and strait laced. (and older) than many MNetters.
I want my boy to look like a boy and my girl to look like a girl. And they do

He doesn't wear pink or have long hair. And d'you what?
He doesn't want pink or long hair.
He hasn't mentioned ear-rings since he was in junior (and I don't think it was serious)
And he was more than happy to have the money equivalent.

There's NO resentment at all between my children.
If anything it's the "I'm the eldest, I should get a later bedroom" thing. But that's not gender, that's age.

YANBU, it should be banned in both genders under 16. Then they can make an informed decision.

Hate piercings on pre teens and people will judge just as they judge on character, name etc.