This Morning - Kids having ears pierced is child abuse ?

[daffodillament]

What utter nonsense. Just tuned in as heard them mention this subject stemmed from Mumsnet ! Now the woman is saying Kids ear piercing is basicly the same as FGM !! I mean WTF ? Get a grip. No it not !

I suppose the difference betwern piercing your dog's ears and your child's is that there are no circumstances in which your dog will ever understand it or want to have it done, whereas lots of girls grow up and are pleased to have had it done already and would choose it for themselves if it hadn't already been done. The parents are genuinely convinced they are doing a good thing for their dc - they are not setting out to cause distress.
I do agree though, that it should not br done to dc who are too young to understand and agree. I am surprised that places will still pierce a baby's ears tbh.

People think about it too much. Oh, pardon me, I thought having a brain and being able to, you know, think about stuff was a good thing? Clearly I've been doing it wrong all these years.

They do cartilage piercings with guns

The Claire's local to me have started doing nose piercings .

@DearMrDilkington that's not a new thing. I had my nose pierced at 15 with a gun in Claire's. That was in NI mind. About 15 odd years ago.
I thought they'd done away with it though, I'm surprised it's still happening.

It's not comparable to FGM but it is altering your child's body against their wishes. Children are obviously incredibly vulerable and rely on their parents to make the best and most informed decisions on their behalf. I don't believe forcing metal through their tiny ears is an informed decision.

I'm unsure why parents do it, it looks awful.

I don't give a shit about it, it is an insult to call it abuse.
However, a poster asking what is FGM? That's a fucking huge societal problem that I can't see any pearl clutching about.

I don't give a shit about it, it is an insult to call it abuse.
However, a poster asking what is FGM? That's a fucking huge societal problem that I can't see any pearl clutching about.

It's possible to care about more than one thing at the same time. Just because people are concerned about piercing babies doesn't mean they don't give a shit about other issues.
Getting beat to a pulp every day is abuse but it doesn't lessen other forms of abuse like gaslighting and coercive control. Abuse is an umbrella term and just because one doesn't seem that bad in comparison to another doesn't make it any less abusive!

There have been many many threads on the feminist boards about FGM btw.

I agree it is not the same as FGM but I do think it is abuse of a sort.

It is inflicting pain on a child purely for aesthetic reasons and I do not believe it should be allowed.

Of course it's not abuse. But TM is often used by people who want on the TV and will say any old "controversial" shit to make it happen. It's depressing how many Katie Hopkins wannabes there are.

Any parent who takes a child for an innoculation knows it can be painful and stressful. But healthwise they are doing the right thing for their child.

Ear piercing is not an essential for a two year old.

Yesterday there was a thread on slapping a child as punishment which saw countless parents totally against it.

I'm surprised at how many parents on here are justifying ear piercing.

So many people saying "it's not abuse" but what else do you call it when you deliberately hurt and injure your child for cosmetic reasons?

I've had to make safeguarding referrals for horrific things; don't tell me I don't know what abuse is. There are levels, and ear piercing is one of them.

Have you made safeguarding referrals because a child had their ears pierced mypickleliesovertheocean?

I wouldn't say it is abuse or put it on a par with FGM, however I do think it's wrong. I know most people end up having it done, but IMHO shouldn't be done till at least 12ish, when the child can ask for it themselves, cooperate with the procedure, and do the necessary aftercare themselves.

I think babies with pierced ears look horrible.

Have you made safeguarding referrals because a child had their ears pierced

No, I said it in response to someone who said people who consider this abuse must have never encountered "real" abuse.

If ear piercing is abusive why did you not make a safeguarding referral?

If ear piercing is abusive why did you not make a safeguarding referral?

Because it's perfectly legal. It would be like complaining about being canned by a teacher in the 60's/70's, no one would give a shit.

What point are you trying to make?

Queenofblitz i think you'll find most are against just taking toddlers along against their wishes which is of course wrong and unnecessary. Let the older kids decide for themselves.
JJS has a point too about FGM.

If ear piercing is abusive why did you not make a safeguarding referral?

If I witnessed a child being pinned down, in distress and being forced to do it. I would. Right in front of the parents too.

Caned*

I encounter real, harrowing, despicable abuse all the time in my role as a teacher.

Piercing holes in a baby is still abuse.

Presumably if i rammed a sharp piece of metal into my child's ear lobe at home causing pain and distress that would be safeguarding issue?
Why is it ok in a salon?
Honestly I'm baffled by some people thinking that's ok.

I can't see it as abuse. I don't like it, and I wouldn't do it to a baby though. I certainly can't equate it to FGM.

My girls had theirs done at 6 & 8. When they asked me.

In some countries, female babies' ears are routinely pierced, as it's just a cultural tradition in order to distinguish them from boys! I think it's unnecessary and vain but it's not abusive...

I had mine done at Claire’s when I was 2. They did them both at the same time.

My DM had mine pierced when I was 4, my DD nagged me to get hers pierced from about the age of 3, she had them done on her 5th birthday, no drama, no tears, no infection, no big deal.
Definitely not abusive.
I’ve noticed that a lot of women on here have problems with any sort of cosmetic enhancement whether it’s shaving legs, dying grey hair or Botox, what’s the problem?