PIERCINGS AND TATTOOS, BEYOND FASHION

Being asked a navel piercing on the eyebrow, in the wing of the nose or on her nipples, be drawing a tattoo on the back or the forearm, all these gestures are more followers. If the youth who make the choice, it is a form of asserting their identity, their parents, rather it rhymes with mutilation, marginality or contamination.

Not just a fad

For several years piercings and tattoos are in fashion . It even seems that there is one more area of the body that can not be stamped with an eagle or a black ring piercing. Teenagers are not the only ones to frequent specialty stores that have increasingly set up shop. Younger or older people may also make this approach, but the meaning of the latter is then less unequivocal. For adolescents, who often go to several to be "drill" or a tattoo, is it a fad to wear consisting tattoos, rings and bright as so many jewels?

Piercing and tattoos to adolescence: an assertion of identity

Sometimes the gesture is much thought and a date is taken, often that of a birthday , to achieve it. In other cases, on a whim , decides that the young make a piercing or tattoo. He then exposed to the risk of regret it a few hours or weeks later. And if a piercing ring is easily removed, this is not the case for a tattoo. But what may be the meaning of this gesture? Marie, 21, recently made a navel piercing. Beyond an aesthetic desire , she could not explain his choice before the act is performed. But just after the ring has been made, she felt she had finally succeed in cutting the umbilical cord . For her, this symbolic gesture allowed him to complete the necessary separation from her mother. It is very likely indeed that for many teenagers, piercings and tattoos allow them toassert their need to leave the world of childhood , while asserting their difference from that of adults. In other words, the markings of the body, far from being female, are rather a way of asserting their identity and their special adult in the making. Moreover, it is also a way for them to display their affiliation to the group .

As for parents: a rather negative image

The reactions of many parents. Some willingly support their teens in this process, even accompanying them to ensure that the hygiene conditions are met. But they are a minority, because in general, parents are rather hostile to such practices. So it is with the parents of Claire, who is in his sixth piercing!One in the nose, three in the ear, two in the navel. At first, she hid them, but since they know, they ask each day without any success removing. They feel especially akin to shame , it was as if their daughter was displaying a intimate part of herself, which should not be seen by others. For other parents, body piercing, because it implies a breaking of the skin (and cartilage), is rather a form of mutilation . In general, tattoos and piercings are mainly carry images rather negative, of marginality or revolt .

Side of the sociologist: a joyous affirmation of identity

In his book, "Signs of Identity" * Sociologist David Le Breton, a professor at the University of Strasbourg attempts to understand and explain the popularity of tattooing and piercing. He said these practices are far from being crazy ways to decorate her body. Instead, he believes that this way of marking his body can take "a function of self-construction , a dimension of identity . " Moreover, it also explains that the majority of body markings were also a function of "staging playful self, eroticism of his body." Instead of signs of pain and mutilation, piercing, and therefore for this taouage sociologist rather marking a joyous entry into the world .

Side of health: an infectious risk to be taken seriously

All these gestures, however small they may be, exposed to rare but real risk of transmission of infections with hepatitis viruses (B or C) and AIDS .That's why the needles, forceps and other instruments needed, should be kept in sealed bags and to be disposable . Jewelry, surgical steel or titanium, must also be sterilized . The room must be clean and "pierceuse" must wear gloves and disinfect the skin before each treatment. On the other hand, the medical must be vigilant vis-à-vis younger 15-16 years because before, we must take into account the ongoing growth and not take the risk of infection, even locally, especially since the young must be able to care of hygiene necessary time to heal .

Whatever the real motivation of a young, so it is essential that parents extend the dialogue with their teens to warn them about the health risks that body piercing and tattooing are likely to result. It will also be an opportunity to better understand the enthusiasm of some and the reluctance of others.