Boys ear piercing

[Traveller]

Please nobody shoot me for starting an ear piercing thread DS1 has said he wants an ear pierced and I'm just reading about the messages that a male ear piercing used to signify (ie gay or not depending on which side it was done on) and wondering if anyone still holds these true, or if a boy can get whichever ear he likes pierced without risking bullying

all opinions welcome

[Jennifer13]

I'll be getting DD's ears pierced if/when she asks for it. I guess it's their choice really, once they're old enough. It's just an accessory.

Having said that, don't hate me for not being gender-neutral, but I personally wouldn't want my son to have an ear piercing while still a child. And DP would HATE the idea! But if you don't feel so strongly, it's your son, not mine. From a practical POV, I think in our case any son of ours wouldn't be allowed to wear an earring at any of the private high schools around here, including the one we would be sending him to. I have never seen a local boy with an earring.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I wasn't allowed earrings at primary school, had to wait until I was 11.

I hated the rule at the time. I now see the wisdom (changing minds, peer pressure, accidents). So it will be the summer after finishing primary for my children if they want it - and I will not be saying anything other than "no" until they are old enough!

[~me~]

I was not allowed to have my ears pierced until High School.

I have to say and this is just my opinion, I don't like the look of boys of any age having ears pierced full stop or off the topic a tail (hair). I am not sure of the which ear theory for gay or straight.
I suppose one thing to consider is if your DS1 will play sports like footballc,soccer or Rugby where contact is pretty full on and the ear is a pretty vulnerable. I know you can tape it over. Will he play during recess and lunch when he it may not be taped?
It's more the injury perspective I would be worried about.

[Traveller]

well I'm relieved there's not a resounding "left ear means gay" or "right ear means gay" lol. I have told girltwin that she can have hers pierced if she wishes when she is 5, so I'm not about to have one rule for boys and another for girls. Ear piercings are allowed in their primary school and we won't be sending them to private school so I don't need to consider that. DS1 rides dirtbikes and shuns ball games so I doubt injury will be an issue either

Thanks for the input. If he still wants it done I will tell him to pick an ear, or both if that's what he wants, and I will take him somewhere reputable to have it done.

[Phteven]

If he wants to play contact sports he can always put tape over his ear lobe.

[BeautifulMadness]

My mum wouldnt let me get mine done till i was 11.


I guess it depends on Is he old enough to make this choice

if not are you willing to let him get it done

[HotI]

Generally males get their left ear pierced, and having the right ear pierced is more common among gay guys.

There is evidence of ear piercing in men in early Persian art and also sailors a long time ago. One theory on the sailors piercings was that if their body was washed up, the gold earring might be enough to pay for a proper burial.

[diannescruffy]

Both my boys have their ear pierced, they were 13 and they both have their left ear done, they did actually say right ear is if you are gay. Neither of them have had any trouble with sports etc.

Regards,
Dianne

[Lisa]

In primary school, boys tend to only get their left ear pierced because there is still the whole, stupid "gay ear" thing - even though all my gay friends who have their ear pierced have theirs on their left side too! lol

But, once in high school boys seem to get both sides done - especially if they have those flesh tunnels/spacer things.

I personally don't like ear piercings on boys but if my daughters are allowed it and my son wants it, I would try to talk him out of it but would let him if he insisted.

[peanutter]

I've always heard right ear = gay.

Most of my gay friends with piercings have both pierced, only two have their right only ear pierced.


My sister and I were allowed to have our ears pierced in the school holidays before our year 12 formal (so we were both 16).

My brothers didn't really want their ears pierced when they were younger, but one of my brothers got his eyebrow done (and my sister and I got more earrings) after we turned 18.

[Traveller]

Thanks ladies! If he decided he wants it done I will encourage the left ear then. I would hate for him to get teased for something as silly as picking the wrong ear and breaking some unwritten piercing code

[Party-of-five]

My DS got his left ear pierced at 8 he asked for it to be done.

[Traveller]

did any other boys in his school get it done at a similar age party-of-5?

[Party-of-five]

at the time I remember a few other boys having it done but not many...DS was just insistant as alot of the men in our family have a piercing or have had one at some point

[Catastrophic]

My boys have them in their left ear, I thought that was just the normal ear to have them in for boys?! I love how your allowing him to have a choice xox