The world of careers and professionalism has become so black and white. There is no creativity or body modifications allowed in the majority of businesses around America. Most retail, factory and food businesses do not allow their employees to have different colored hair, visible piercings or tattoos.
Management believes these visible attributes may make their employees look unprofessional, different and incapable of doing their job. These rules are foolish and plain judgmental. Appearances should not matter — the ability to do the job absolutely does.
Creative body image is not accepted within American work culture, specifically within the range between high school and college-aged students. The main concern most businesses have with piercings, hair color and tattoos is their employees appearing unprofessional.
Employees are forced to maintain a look of subtlety and blandness so they appear decent to the business’ guests or customers. This is one of the main reasons American businesses fall when it comes to customer service. They are so focused on the right look, instead of training potential employees for the job at hand.
“Professionalism is crucial, but treating a job professionally and treating people with professionalism is far more important than wearing the correct attire,” said Stapaw in an article titled “My Body Is Not My Resume.”
“A cotton blend doesn’t turn in paperwork on time, or organize effectively and neither does a tattoo. It’s the person who does the job, not the tattoo, piercing or suit.”
The article goes on to explain how appearance is not important, and the employees’ main priority should be their character and work ethic. What is most interesting to me is big successful corporations like Google and Amazon have a casual dress code for their employees, and body modifications or hair color is the least of their worries.
This argument could also go the other way. Certain jobs want their employees to have a specific look, which seems preposterous to present as everyday workwear. Employees from establishments like Hooters, Twin Peaks and Walk-On’s require their servers and bartenders to maintain a sexual look and high attractiveness. If a girl were to show up to her shifts without her makeup done, she may be sent home or even lose her job.
Sixty-one percent of American adults have piercings or tattoos. This big chunk of the population still need jobs to not only support themselves or their families, but to support America. Employers who give the excuse of body modifications being unprofessional and offensive to customers need to look past the surface and evaluate their employees for what they have to offer the company.
There are doctors, lawyers and even government officials who have had their fair share of body creativity, but nonetheless, they do their job and help the citizens of America. It should never be about what is on the outside, and I encourage bosses to look into the work ethic of all potential employees, despite appearance.
Kiana Naquin is a 21-year-old English sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.