<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">Quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Jagerick

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">Quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Peesh

Ok, so my boss is a piercer and she has her studio out of her house... anyway, she will pierce anyone, any age, with or without a parent. Well she has been telling people that there isn't a legal piercing age in Washington so it doesn't matter. Is that true?? This isn't a problem for me seeing as I'm 19, I'm just curious.


I would argue that she isn't a piercer, just someone who pierces people. While the state law might not cover it, there is a thing called age of consent. I would say that things such as this would/should be covered by that law. And unless I am wrong, consent is 18.


Not exactly.
The age of consent varies by state. For example, where I live, it is 16 if you aren't a virgin and 18 if you are. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#United_States) has a summary of the ages of consent by states (with links to the laws themselves). Washington seems complicated, but I think it is 16 in most cases.

I must admit I am surprised that you don't know your own state's laws on the age of consent. For Texas, the age of consent is 17, not 18.

As for being a 'minor', the USA defines a minor as anyone under 18. This is /different/ than age of consent. However, state laws differ. In eleven states, including Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas, a "juvenile" is legally defined as a person under seventeen. In three states, Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, "juvenile" refers to a person under sixteen. In Mississipi, it refers to an individual under 21. Thus, you can see the age of consent is NOT the age of majority.

What is the difference between passing the age on consent and the age of majority, you ask? While under the age of majority, you are legally a child and protected as such (even by the UN). The age of majority is also part of criminal law (adult v juvenile courts). The age of consent is not used in criminal law like that but rather is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be capable of legally giving informed consent to any contract or behaviour regulated by law with another person (usually regarding sexual interaction). This is different from the age of majority, the age of criminal responsibility, and the age of marriageability.

If you want to have your own ethical cut-off, that is fine and good, but you shouldn't tie it to the age of majority or the age of consent.

correct me if im wrong but age of consent refers solely to sex, not to getting piercings, tattoo, etc...for example the age of consent in Il is 17, but that doesnt mean that at the age of 17 i could buy cigarettes despite the fact that i could legally consent to such activity...

Age of consent also has to do with entering into legally binding contracts. Minors cannot do that. Anyone who will risk piercing someone without a legal release form is insane.

Age of consent for sex in KS is 16 but you still have to be 18 to get pierced/tattooed

The whole situation just sucks... because when people come and ask if I know anyone who does piercings I have to refer them to her. I mean shes awesome, and I get along with her, but I don't agree with that. Not only that, but she told me that I will lose my job if I get pierced by anyone else, and I'm really not comfortable getting pierced in someones living room. No matter how clean they keep their house, its not the same as a steril room in a shop. ugh

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Originally posted by Peesh

The whole situation just sucks... because when people come and ask if I know anyone who does piercings I have to refer them to her. I mean shes awesome, and I get along with her, but I don't agree with that. Not only that, but she told me that I will lose my job if I get pierced by anyone else, and I'm really not comfortable getting pierced in someones living room. No matter how clean they keep their house, its not the same as a steril room in a shop. ugh

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You have a shitty boss, and to be honest you should find a better job, and report her/file harassment charges for her threats/behavior.

She already told me that if she ever got called on it she would deny it... plus I like her as a person, just not as a boss... and I have no idea where else I could work.

Yeah, um, she is totally manipulating you by threatening to take away your job. If your ok with that then fine, but I agree with spooky. She is using you to exploit her needs. I mean, who you refer people to as a good piercer, and who you get pierced by is a personal choice and should have nothing to do with your job. Maybe its just me but I would be a little pissed off about that whole work situation. Good luck.

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Originally posted by Peesh

She already told me that if she ever got called on it she would deny it... plus I like her as a person, just not as a boss... and I have no idea where else I could work.

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How could you honestly like someone who would try to blackmail an employee and friend that way? She sounds like a very selfish and controlling person. It's tough quitting your job, but do you really want someone like that in your life? :/

I'm pretty sure age on consent applies here. I've been in my local shop a few times and 16-year-olds from WA have been here getting pierced because they had to be 18 to have it done in WA. And that's not even opening the ethical/moral can of worms.