Earrings on college age (and older) guys

[Anonymous]

What do you think of earrings on late teenage boys and young adult men? I am gen x but probably going to sound like a boomer here! but I am not a fan of the aesthetic of earrings (both ears pierced) on men. But I know it is very popular with college age guys.

I ask because my college junior DS is thinking about getting his ears pierced and asked my opinion. I told him the truth which is that I’m just not into that aesthetic on guys (having both ears pierced. Ironically I could probably like just one ear pierced but that is because of what my old lady self is used to on men of my generation when they were younger!)

My other hesitation is that I do worry about employers judging him and it influencing their decisions. He said it is unlikely to matter in 2025 and if it did rule him out then the culture would probably not be a fit for him (he is not super alt at all, pretty average college guy style, but I know he means that the vibe would probably be too uptight or something if they excluded a guys for pierced ears).

Thoughts? Is this a non-issue these days with social judgement and/or employment?

If it matters he is in engineering, which I suppose could lead to employment in a range of types of settings.




[Anonymous]

If he wants it, he should get it. Doesn't matter what you think; it's an earring, not a face tattoo. It can be easily removed and forgotten if he changes his mind down the road. DH had one when he was a teen and took it out before he enlisted. You can't even tell he ever had one, as the hole closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he wants it, he should get it. Doesn't matter what you think; it's an earring, not a face tattoo. It can be easily removed and forgotten if he changes his mind down the road. DH had one when he was a teen and took it out before he enlisted. You can't even tell he ever had one, as the hole closed.

Op here, I agree and this sounds right on all accounts. Thank you for the measured response.

Because he asked what I thought I felt I had a parental obligation to at least think through the potential downsides.

[Anonymous]

No one will judge him for employment. If he is interviewing in any F500 finance or consulting he should know to remove it for the interview until he gets a handle on the culture. Just like my DD doesn’t show up to interview with giant hoop earrings. Some professions are just more traditional than others. But there are plenty of folks with tattoos and earring showing once they’re hired. Not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Seems harmless enough. When he interviews for jobs, just don't wear the earrings. Or by then, he might be over the look and have moved on.

What I think hurts people trying to get jobs in traditional workplaces are gauges, even when they take them out for an interview.

[Anonymous]

eh. Not finding this to exciting or remarkable.

[Anonymous]

Hate this trend

[Anonymous]

Here's the truth: anything "unusual-looking" has to be compensated for by above-average good looks, or above-average presentation skills, or above-average expertise in a professional setting. And sadly, by "unusual-looking", I mean all sorts of differences, including brown skin, non-Christian religious appurtenances, non-straight, etc. Anything that's not the regular white guy in conventional clothes.

Earrings on men aren't earth-shattering at all. If he wants them, he should get them! Life is too short to not be oneself. But at some point in his life, there will be a supervisor who "notices". And at that time, he'd better be above reproach in all the other ways.

[Anonymous]

I don't like the look but I'm neither a man nor young so my opinion doesn't matter here.

[Anonymous]

As long as its not a ear gauge piercing, I can tolerate it. Those are repulsive, at least to me and probably to majority of humans.

[Anonymous]

I like the look and if I were a 20 something version of myself, I would DEFINITELY find it attractive. Agree for some professional environments earrings should come out for interviews and while they are getting the lay of the land, obviously for some jobs it wouldn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the truth: anything "unusual-looking" has to be compensated for by above-average good looks, or above-average presentation skills, or above-average expertise in a professional setting. And sadly, by "unusual-looking", I mean all sorts of differences, including brown skin, non-Christian religious appurtenances, non-straight, etc. Anything that's not the regular white guy in conventional clothes.

Earrings on men aren't earth-shattering at all. If he wants them, he should get them! Life is too short to not be oneself. But at some point in his life, there will be a supervisor who "notices". And at that time, he'd better be above reproach in all the other ways.

What kind of DEI racist nonsense have you been brainwashed to believe?

[Anonymous]

Not previous poster but must ask what kind of racial privilege have you been protected by to believe its nonsense?

[Anonymous]

I have no opinion..
His ears. His choice.

[Anonymous]

OP, The fact that He asked Your opinion is amazing!
You should be proud of Him.
If an employer has a problem with pierced ears,
that is their problem, not His.
Perhaps I am a bit bias though,
28yo DS has six ear piercings, three on each ear.
He always wears dangly earrings in the first set,
and two tiny rings in the second and third.
He is quite artsy so it suits Him well.