An insightful look at society“If it sticks out, pierce it” is a motto for piercing. Over the past decade, body piercing has “steadily evolved” to become part of a trendy fashion statement that is spreading Parkey-like throughout American society. “Piercing is an American-style fad.” (Wattenberg) The influence of fashion is the most powerful pressure there is. The once rebellious art of body piercing, performed only by the so-called "freaks" of society, is now a trendy fad practiced by many. The body piercing trend was partly sparked by models and MTV. “The piercing has gradually lost its outlaw image and has been mass marketed to the impressionable generation by music videos, rock stars and models.” (Leo) Piercings are also found on celebrities whose lives are so torn apart by the media that nothing is kept secret. The news would eventually reach the public, which would trigger a trend in admirers. The piercing also appears on the Tattoodles Doll in toy stores and as Internet games such as Piercing Mildred. Through this style of piercing it has become acceptable to all ages, from children who want to play with Tattoodles, to teenagers who watch MTV, to adults on the Internet. Piercing has excelled so much that it is now considered body art along with tattoos. “Piercing is part of the larger “body modification” movement. (Leo) An estimated 1 in 10 people have piercings somewhere other than the ear. Today's social standards aren't what they used to be. society has started to relax on what is seen as the ideal image. It has gone from the conservative middle class aspect to the open minded aspect, everything becomes creative a statement to the rest of society. You don't have to have the best looking or most professional look to get far. “Society has a tendency to loosen its standards indefinitely to accommodate even more bizarre and antisocial extreme behavior.” gained mainstream recognition in American society in the 1990s. More people began to accept it. One newspaper explained it well: “It has moved from the fringes of society to the mainstream.” (Leo) Piercing used to be done by "outcasts of society and was often looked down upon, but now body piercing studios are expanding by about one studio a day.