Do you wear piercings to conform to social norms or rebel against it?

Ehhhh I think it’s easy to focus on all the issues of the world now, which surely need to be addressed, but it really is no comparison to how monstrous humans have been throughout history.

That said, the expectations people be ‘clean cut’ to look professional/ of a superior social class is definitely the product of colonization or modeling after themselves after those ‘of power’.

I only have earring holes these days, which I rarely use. I’m lazy lol…. I suppose one could argue that I dislike doing things to myself that normalize being uncomfortable is a form of refusal to meet societal pressures , especially for my gender. I used to have piercings. They made a statement about myself in contrast to mainstream goals. I thought they would help me find my tribe. They didn’t. I met many people with body modifications etc. who I had nothing in common with aside from our desire to be accepted, not unlike all humans it turns out.
Now I see that how I live my values is what speaks loudest regardless if I dress rockabilly or conservative, in the end it doesn’t really matter. The sum of my choices is what is most evident.

I do have a few tattoos. I’d like to get more. They signify poignant chapters in my life.

Neither. I had my ears pierced two weeks ago at last at the age of 66 because I'm fed up trying to find pretty clip on earrings!

I have ear, nose and navel piercings because I like piercings and jewelry. To me they have nothing to do with rebellion or conformity.

Actually, it's the opposite. It's not different or "unique" everyone today is tatted up and pierced from head to toe....at least her in the US in more expressive countries.