Subtle Addiction; Burning Stereotype

I know I talk about stereotypes a lot, but they're definitely a huge part of my life and American culture.

A few weeks ago, someone made the comment that "no one here is ghetto with piercings and tattoos;" needless to say, I freaked out on him.  I asked if I looked ghetto, and when he said no I showed him my tattoos and piercings. He was stunned into silence because piercings and tattoos wouldn't be expected from an "innocent Christian girl" such as myself.

This past week, I got 2 more piercings - my rook and my tragus. I was scared that they would hurt really badly, but they were just like my cartilage piercing, and my belly button was still the worst piercing as far as pain goes (the numbing didn't work, I saw the giant needle, etc.).  

For the past few months, I've been planning my next tattoo that I hope to get after school on my 18th birthday. Even though my birthday is not for a few months, I know if I have a plan it will give me something to look forward to through the long winter months. I think I've decided what I want, and I have a plan for a few other tattoos that I want to get with my best friend, my brother, and my mom.

Nearly every employer with an online application asks the question, "Do you have any piercings, tattoos, etc., that cannot be easily covered (ie. face, arms)?" Why does this matter? So many people around the world have piercings and tattoos that can and can't be easily covered; its normal to see other people with tattoos, piercings, and even stretched ears, nearly anywhere in a public place.  Fortunately, my employer doesn't require me to cover my tattoos because so many of the gymnasts' parents have them.

Needless to say, I might have a small addiction to tattoos and piercings.  They hurt like hell, but I love them all the same. I think tattoos help you find yourself when you're lost on one of life's roads; piercings are a more temporary form of self-expression that show people that you're willing to live through pain.  If tattoos and piercings mean so much to me (and to others like myself), why should we be judged for them? Why should I be "contradicting" my religion (that doesn't have a problem with clean tattoos) with tattoos and piercing? What difference does it make to other people, if my tattoos and piercings have meaning to me? 

First Tattoo 07/2011:

Second Tattoo 12/2011:

Ear Piercings (cartilage, tragus, rook, lobes x2) 11/2012:

Am I ghetto now?