Should Men Wear Earrings?

[UKRay]

Okay, this is a serious question which could be a tad contentious, but I'm happy with that.

I have been talking to a large number of people (over 50) here in the UK, in Australia and NZ and also in the US who appear to think that men probably shouldn't wear earrings. To be fair, a good number said they felt men can do whatever they like, but the majority appear to think that the 'day of the male earring' is dead and gone.

What are your views on earrings for men? Yes? No? Which ear? What sort?

Ray

[bdt46]

As a Native American (LENAPE) I wear one set of earrings all of the time. When I am dancing at Native American Powwows, I wear two sets of earrings! They are as much a part of my personal identity as anything I can think of. Look at old photographs of Native American men and you will see that they nearly all had some kind of earrings, as did many other ethnic males of different cultures. To my way of thinking it is a personal choice on a man wearing earrings. Besides it makes as much sense to me to wear earrings as it does for a man to wear a business suit and tie!

[leatheroo]

I like earrings on men, but it depends on the type of earring....i am not keen on studs, but like a more tribal look.

[Big O]

Doesn't matter to me what others do.

It's not for me. I've spent my entire adult life as a soldier or a cop.

....which means it's a major plus to leave this world with no more holes in your body than you came into it with.....

[Ferg]

Doesn't matter to me what others do.

It's not for me. I've spent my entire adult life as a soldier or a cop.

....which means it's a major plus to leave this world with no more holes in your body than you came into it with.....

As some know I am an old geezer. Funny, I have no problem with Native Americans wearing ear jewelry or any other of their native adornment. At least 50 percent of the males wearing ear rings these days remind me of a pimp or a fruit cake. The distorted ear lobes get me the most. I am convinced that a large majority of the males wearing the "Junk" jewelry are doing it to get attention. If that is the reason it worked.

ferg

[somewhereinusa]

NO (white,male,over60)

Does that make me a geezer?

Edited November 8, 2010 by somewhereinusa

[whinewine]

Okay, this is a serious question which could be a tad contentious, but I'm happy with that.

I have been talking to a large number of people (over 50) here in the UK, in Australia and NZ and also in the US who appear to think that men probably shouldn't wear earrings. To be fair, a good number said they felt men can do whatever they like, but the majority appear to think that the 'day of the male earring' is dead and gone.

What are your views on earrings for men? Yes? No? Which ear? What sort?

Ray

Ray, I truly don't care if a man wears an earring (or 2 or 20) or not. I wouldn't, but that's me. I also wouldn't get a tattoo, but that's me. (However, I like to wear kilts, and relish any gathering that welcomes them- but that's me.)

Personally, I feel that many people over 50 are too set in their ways & are too conscious of their 'image' ("...if I do that, or if I wear this, what will THEY think???")- they think 'old' and they are old.

I'm 66- & I don't care what others think- but that's me.

[Billy P]

I had a birthday on October 16th, and turned 58. I've had my ear pierced since I was 18, and still wear a earring most of the time. When I got my ear pierced, that is when I really learned how to fight, LOL, down here in the south it was fight or take a bunch of crap, and I was just redneck enough that I wasn't gonna do that. Anyway to me pierce it or not I don't care as long as it doesn't effect me. Just do your own thing. Billy P

[Timd]

I'll be 51 the 20th of this month, and I've had a small gold hoop since 1977, and a diamond stud since 1980. Like Billy, when I was young, I spent alot of time not takin' crap, but now that I'm older and wiser(?) I just laugh. I'm with Ferg on those big holes though, imagine what they'll look like at 50......

[Russ]

I waited until I was 38 to add the earring. Got my first tattoo at 30. Guess I'm behind the age curve thing. Anyway, never regretted the piercing or the tats. My dad came around on the tattoos. But he's not gonna accept the earring, ever.

[roo4u]

i dont mind ear peircings....dont care for the gauging tho...why would you want a huge hole in your ear? but the rest of it...tongues, noses, eyebrows etc...yuck!

[Jordan]

tried one years ago looked rather silly, still think they look silly, but people can do what they want, or I should they will do what they want.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

We have a monthly event in the 18b Arts District of Las Vegas. It is called First Friday, and it is basically a huge block party where you will see Goths, cross dressers, steampunks, rockers, and many other types of people walking around. Why do I like it so much down there? The main reason is although you have this huge crowd of different people they are all getting along. No fights, no yelling, just a fun night out listening to live bands, dancing, and checking out some cool art.

I don't have an earring, or a tattoo, but I won't stop anyone from getting either of them. I do find some piercings attractive on women, and if a tattoo sleeve is done right it looks great, especially on a cute rockabilly chick

In many cultures body adornment is considered the norm, be it tattooing, piercings, scarification, etc. At one time tiny feet were prized in China, so they bound women's feet to make them small. Is any of this different than what we do with plastic surgery today? It is just another form of body modification. The only real difference is that most of the plastic surgery is done on women, and after checking out some of the local gentleman's clubs I would have to say that most enhancements were not that well done. That's just my opinion. In the end we are all individuals, and that is how it should be. I don't want to live where everyone is the same. I like having some diversity. A lot of people think that I am on the fringe with my interests, and activities, but I could care less. I do what I like. At one time my long hair would have caused a stir, now it just compliments my Halloween costume.

If we look beyond the exterior facade we will find that we are more alike than different.

[ferret]

Used to have one back in the 70's, got rid of it when I got into re-enactment. It kept getting caught in the maille shirt and It's quite painfull having 60lbs of steel hanging off your ear.

[TexasJack]

Personally, no earring.

However, I'm pretty big on the idea that what others do that doesn't affect me is none of my d**** business.

I'm also not big on tattoos. Like the line in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", "...Only cattle should be branded."

[Russ]

No argument here. I've seen people that have branded themselves....MUCH different than a tatt. OUCH.

"...Only cattle should be branded."

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

I just turned 66, to date, the only thing I have added to my body is a small initials tattoo on my forearm back in the 50's! My buddies and I did each others, back then it was cool. I guess I have never regretted that, except for the beating I got from my mom back then! On the other hand it kept me from getting/needing to get any more. As for earrings, not for me. To sum it all up, "It's your thing, do what you wanna do!"

That's what America is all about.

Bob

[UKRay]

I am surprised at the response to this topic. From my discussions with people around the world I would have thought it would have provoked more vehement support or loathing. It seems that most people don't actually give a rats ass - I like that!

Freedom to express yourself is rare enough in this world. An earring is one of the few ways to do it, but obviously you have to live and work in an environment where it would be considered acceptable. What is the stigma attached to earring wearing? I'd be interested to know if the same people who are anti-earring are also anti anything else?

I know a number of UK Police Officers who wear earrings when they are not at work, and I know several British Police Officers with tattoos - often Navy or other military tats. Is this the same the world over or do tattoos carry the same sort of stigma as earrings?

Also: does being a law enforcement officer or holding other 'public' post tend to exclude a person from wearing an earring when off duty?

Ray

[JRedding]

I don't have earrings or tats either one, just not for me. I don't really care what others do to themselves, it is more appealing if it's something done in good taste and with a little class. I hate to see kids that look like they've been slapped with a tackle box, I'll never be convinced that going to the extremes some do will never have an effect on their ability to get a job, or what kind of a job they can get looking like they do.

[dirtclod]

Ear rings are tattoos don't have anything with a person being able to do job. I don't think. But around here their are a couple of stores that make workers take out and jewelry that is in their nose, lips, eye brows. tounge and cheeks out before work they go to work. That have to cover tattoo's up while their working to. But i live in a pretty small town.

Tattoos that are well done look alright. But i see so many that that look like drunk monkey did the work it's not even funny. One guy i worked said he was going to get a tattoo and i told him to look at work the tattoo artist had done. So he could see if they knew what they were doing. He didn't and got a crappy tattoo it's not like you can erase it and start over if they make a mistake.

Ear rings and other pirceing's can be grabbed, then the other person can lead you around like a little puppy if they want to. The streached out ears are going to make plastic surgeons rich in a few years when folks don't want them any more. What's cool when your 18 to 25

sometimes isn't so cool when you get in your 40's and 50's. IMO

I don't have either one. But if somebody else wants them then it's their business. I may wonder why they did it but that's just me.

John

Edited November 12, 2010 by dirtclod

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

As I said before," Its your thing, do what you wanna do", however; food for thought, sometime ago I heard a comic or TV show host say, a tasteful tattoo somewhere on a woman is " cute" now, but ; in 40 or 50 years there are going to be a lot of Old Women with some really ugly sagging...tattoos walking around!

[wildrose]

Ray, you asked about a stigma attached to wearing an earring, and I'm going to be blunt: when I was in high school, what ear a man had the ring in denoted if he was gay or not (and I don't remember which was which, so I can't tell you that). Then it got so generalized that if you were a man and had an earring, you were "announcing" you were gay. Really! Nowadays, I think more guys have them, and it's not such an issue anymore. My husband has often said he'd like to get his ear pierced and I tell him "go for it!". His parents would have a fit though ;-)

[UKRay]

Funny how things have changed, isn't it.

Nowadays the 'gay' thing doesn't seem to apply over here in the UK, but I tend to believe that, in most places around the world, having an earring is not regarded as wholly 'respectable' (unless you work in 'media' LOL, or are big enough to defend your right to do as you please!).

Tattoos also seem to have their own (unfortunately mainly negative) cultural implications. I guess this is the same the world over - except, maybe, in New Zealand where I believe Maori tattoos are an important part of the cultural tradition. Do any other countries have a positive tattoo tradition?

I don't have an earring or tattoo, but have often wondered if my life would have been different if I'd made the decision to do so.

Ray

[woodandsteel]

This is up to each person to decide for himself. It's pretty commonplace and "normal" these days in the U.S., particularly in more urban or college-town settings. Tattoos are even more common, in my experience. I've worn a small hoop earring in each ear for the last 15 years (I'm 33), but never got any tattoos.

[hivemind]

The only stigma I've ever seen with tattoos is when someone has them in very visible locations - face, neck, hands. Basically anything that can't be covered up by a long-sleeved shirt. That seems to say one of a few different things:

1. Ex-con

2. Biker (lots of overlap with #1)

3. "white trash"

4. Exhibitionist

No major stigma for guys with earrings, although around here they're still initially thought of as a little "fruity". People with a lot of facial piercings or big gauges (the plugs) get a lot of funny looks, and around here you're working minimum wage, or for someone who knows you if you're carrying a lot of metal in your face.

I'm a white male, 37 years old, in upstate New York (farms and cows, not skyscrapers), and for reference, I have a good number of tattoos on my back from when I was in the Marines, but if you don't know me well you have no idea. Never had anything pierced - seemed like way too much of a liability in a scrap, and I still have my moments...

All that said, I really couldn't care less what people do - but old habits and prejudices die hard.

Edited November 13, 2010 by hivemind