So I was doing some more research for Visual Perception and Manipulation, when on my possible search links there was a section titled "the visual perception of body modification". So I read this article that a graduate student wrote and I thought Jessica B. would find it maybe useful for her research. Of course its hard to say what information she doesn't have already but this article is titled "Visible Body Modification in Hiring Practices" it was pretty interesting. I thought since we are all seniors, and begining to enter the work place this article was somewhat relatable to us all, but especially for Jessica's project. I hope you enjoy.
http://www.uwstout.edu/static/rs/2009/Barrett.Aspen.Visible_Body_Modification_hiring_practices.pdf
Wow Deanna, this is great! I really appreciate this.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting to read this article, because it brings several situations to mind with which I have experience. It is very true, as the article states, that few "companies have specifically-stated policies regarding VBM" (visible body mods), as it is true that few companies have specifically-stated policies regarding prejudice against ANY kind of issue. For instance, when I interned at Cincinnati Art Museum two summers ago, the director of my division was discussing potential job candidates with another woman. They literally tossed aside one woman's application, laughing and saying, "No one with the same first AND last name as the Director of (our department name, which I will not disclose!) has a chance of getting in into this department!"
Really??? As I organized books by call number, I was truly surprised that such an independent, seemingly-forward thinking, successful woman such as this could possibly be affected by something as harmless as a name.
Likewise, I am amazed that companies can judge potential candidates by something as harmless, and even more meaningful than a name, as visible body mods. I say that body mods are more important than a name because names are chosen for us; we cannot easily, without pursuing legal matters, choose a name for ourselves that we deem truly fitting for the people we have become. However, body modification is, in most cases, self-elected. What better way to explain our true selves than through body modification? I'm not saying that body modification is for everyone, in fact, I know that there are many, MANY people for whom body modification is absolutely wrong and foreign to their lifestyles. I accept this. It seems wrong to me that people for whom body modification is wrong, should elect to negatively judge something that they cannot even begin to understand.
Another thought that this article spurred was that I DO indeed understand why some workplaces are hesitant to consider certain modified individuals are potential employees. But that's not to say that I AGREE with it. Eriq Sprague, more commonly known as Lizard Man, is a brilliantly intelligent man. He was "a national merit scholar finalist, attended Hartwick College (Oneonta, NY) on a full academic scholarship and received a BA with Honors in Philosophy in 1994. In 1996 [he] began doctoral studies in philosophy at the University at Albany (Albany, NY). [He] left [his] doctoral work (ABD) in 1999 in order to pursue career opportunities as a performance artist full time." Why he should be deemed any less-qualified than someone with similar credentials, simply because of his very visible body mods, is beyond me.
Thanks for this, Deanna!