the politics of piercings

ANGREYTEEN

I'm planning to study politics at uni but one major issue has come up.
I have eleven ear piercings, (which can be hidden if need be), a tongue piercing and a nose piercing and I have a good few tattoos but they are easily hidden.
I have been told that if I intend to go down a road with politics or any occupation like that, the piercings have got to go.
My academic grades are fantastic, i'm am in an awful lot of political and debating societys; it's plainly obvious I have a huge interest in the subject, so why am I being demonised because of my peircings? They are small, discrete and very clean, so I can't see they problem. Is it fair that people can judge me simply because of my nose stud? Is it realy that big a deal?
You couldn't make a judgement on somebody if they were disabled, or from an ethnic minority or if they were old. My political beliefs wouldn't be all that liberal, as you might think. The typical image of a politian, clean-cut, shirt and tie and absolutly perfect family man or woman, does not reflect the life of the British people any more.
Does a dress code belong in a democrtic society? With a government that constantly bangs on about equality and equal rights is this not totally contradicting everything they supposedly believe in. Such hipocrasy, such bigots, such lies.
Lets be realistic here, I'm not expecting to be the next priminister. I might not even go into poitics. All I want is to stand up for what I believe in and hopefully make a bit of a difference. I know that people think I'm only trying to cause trouble but thats not how it is at all. I have piercings because i genuinly, really love piercings.
People constantly keep saying to me 'well thats life' 'thats the real world'. Is that it? Is that what I really have to look forward to in life? Being judged and having my spirit broken?
Maybe society should start building bridges and start trying to get over these social issues instead of covering it up with a dress code. To cover up my personal appearence is to be untrue to myself and thats lying. I think we've all had enough of that from politians don't you?

PeteD

Image does matter in politics - we all know how much first impressions matter, and its always easier to pander to the conservative end of the spectrum. But it doesn't sound like the piercings are excessive (a tongue piercing might cause comment, but its less obvious than a lip piercing). Its probably just the number of piercings, as 11 does sound like a lot no matter how discreet.

oh, and if you're a guy then it will make a big difference - I think generally piercings are far easier to accept on women.

Lord Hysteria

What you need to be concerned about is a professional attitude when you enter the workplace.