2005.06.27: June 27, 2005: Headlines: Recruitment: Tatooes: Free Expression: Freedom of Speech: First Amendment: Miss LonelyHearts: Fashion: Personal Web Site: Dear Miss LonelyHearts: What is Peace Corps' policy on Tattoos and Piercings?
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2005.06.27: June 27, 2005: Headlines: Recruitment: Tatooes: Free Expression: Freedom of Speech: First Amendment: Miss LonelyHearts: Fashion: Personal Web Site: Dear Miss LonelyHearts: What is Peace Corps' policy on Tattoos and Piercings?
Dear Miss LonelyHearts: What is Peace Corps' policy on Tattoos and Piercings?
A Romania RPCV writes: It has sadly come to my attention that Peace Corps is looking to become more discriminatory of applicants based on their artistic expression. Applicants who have tattoos will be heavily screened if not totally rejected from going to Asia, Central Asia and Eastern European regions because PC wants to give the world "a more professional view" of Americans. According to Peace Corps, countries in Central Asia and also Ukraine have a view of tattoos as a sign you have been in prison. I know this is true to a certain extent because I know a few returned volunteers who have served in Central Asian countries. But as a lot of you RPCVs out there who have served in EE/CA regions can attest to is that tattoos are growing within the region in popularity with host country nationals, as are piercings. As a returned volunteer from Romania, I certainly can say this. Volunteers got facial piercings in-country, tattoos in country, did it compromise their job and the respect they had gained while there? No, not at all. Some of these volunteers ended up extending. So my big issue here is where will Peace Corps draw the line? If there is a totally qualified primary education teacher trainer, certified with experience, who has a tattoo on her ankle, and then another primary education candidate with no certification and 6 months primary tutoring experience, with no tattoo, who are they going to choose? Is it about physical professionalism now in PC instead of what skills you can bring to your Peace Corps country?
Dear Miss LonelyHearts: What is Peace Corps' policy on Tattoos and Piercings?
Tattoos and Piercings in Peace Corps
June 27, 2005
It has sadly come to my attention that Peace Corps is looking to become more discriminatory of applicants based on their artistic expression. Applicants who have tattoos will be heavily screened if not totally rejected from going to Asia, Central Asia and Eastern European regions because PC wants to give the world "a more professional view" of Americans.
This is my account of the recent happenings at PC headquarters, and it my anger toward this issue may not reflect the view of all recruiters.
According to Peace Corps, countries in Central Asia and also Ukraine have a view of tattoos as a sign you have been in prison. I know this is true to a certain extent because I know a few returned volunteers who have served in Central Asian countries.
But as a lot of you RPCVs out there who have served in EE/CA regions can attest to is that tattoos are growing within the region in popularity with host country nationals, as are piercings. As a returned volunteer from Romania, I certainly can say this. Volunteers got facial piercings in-country, tattoos in country, did it compromise their job and the respect they had gained while there? No, not at all. Some of these volunteers ended up extending.
I find is hypocritical that the organization that I work for preaches diversity among volunteers, but discrimates against diversity in personal, permanent expression. I also find it angering that PC is preaching a more professional look among its volunteers, but also warns volunteers about the safety and security issues of not fitting in. For example, in Romania teachers in my school that were my age (26) wore SHORT skirts, stiletto heals, and see through pants with colored thongs and bras. I am NOT kidding. Now if I were to "fit in" there, I would have to dress the same way, which do you want to see my 160 pound ass in a red thong and white pants with my breasts hanging out? I think not.
But dressing "American professional" makes you stand WAY out in Romania, therefore compromising the safety and security of the volunteer. Even though I am dark-skinned, like most Romanians are, I still dyed my hair black for two years to fit it in, and still people could tell I was not Romanian.
So my big issue here is where will Peace Corps draw the line? If there is a totally qualified primary education teacher trainer, certified with experience, who has a tattoo on her ankle, and then another primary education candidate with no certification and 6 months primary tutoring experience, with no tattoo, who are they going to choose? Is it about physical professionalism now in PC instead of what skills you can bring to your Peace Corps country?
If this is the way Peace Corps is going, I have totally lost my credibility as a recruiter. Me, whose pictures show me with short spiky hair and lip ring in Romania. Me, who has to stand up and tell people there is a good chance they will not get into PC if they have tattoos, while I have a very visible tattoo on my forearm. I cannot bear to have people who are interested in helping others overseas think that I am a hypocrite because of these hardcore, un-Peace Corps regulations PC may be throwing down soon.
If this tattoo issue does become standard in PC, I will be the first to let you know. I will also be resigning from my position as a recruiter in the Denver office.
If any of the RPCVs out there who served in EE, CA or NA/ME feel the same way as I do, or even feel like PC has a good idea with making tighter restrictions on tattoos, please let me know. I will not judge you if you disagree with my agitation on the topic, I just want to know where I stand here with what I believe is the right thing.
(Post a new comment)
[info]avagabond
2005-06-27 18:06 (link)
This concerns me because I have three tattoos and will not be able to apply to the PC for at least another year and a half. I have been looking forward to serving in the peace corps for years. What if the tattoos are in places that can be covered up? Also, how do you think this will affect service in Africa, as I am learning French, a placement there seems almost inevitable?
(Reply to this) (Thread)
[info]earth_nomad
2005-06-27 19:22 (link)
I have 2 tattoos and am about to get a third rather large piece (on my side. UNDER normal clothes restrictions) the other 2 I can grow out my hair and wear a watch and they will be covered. I will not be done with college for another year and a half either. I am also taking french courses to try and maintain/improve my french speaking abilities to (hopefully) go to west africa. buttt..yeah that's a concern. I don't want to accomodate my life now but know in some ways I need to-- and know that in doing somethign like this you have to be culture-conscious
sorry 
that was completely unhelpful. I was just interested to hear you were trying to figure out a way to do the same thing I want to do
(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)
[info]abrandilyn
2005-06-27 21:06 (link)
It's different in west Africa, so you don't have to worry too much. Everyone has ear piercings and many people have tattoos--in many places, anyway.
(Reply to this) (Parent)
Amen!
[info]fidlerpcv
2005-06-27 18:09 (link)
I served in the Philippines, where (according to Peace Corps) tattoos are not kosher. Did that stop me from getting a tattoo done by a talented local artist? Of course not. Did that stop my Filipino friends from loving it? Nope.
I took out several piercings and changed the color of my hair in order to serve, which I was ok with, but it was unnecessary. I packed according to the clothing list PC gave me and as a consequence spent my first few months being mistaken for a Catholic nun. When I lost so much weight that the nun clothes no longer fit (something PC also told me would not happen), I bought new clothes that I actually liked, and all the Filipinos said, "Wow, you look so much better!"
I don't resent that part of my experience - no harm done and now I can laugh about it. What I DO resent is the fact that volunteers are urged to present themselves as being far more socially conservative than they really are, even if it isn't necessary to fit in in their host country. At my COS conference they asked us what we would have done differently, and most of us responded that we had held back too much socially because PC had warned us about appearing "wild". Again, no harm done. I was lucky enough to find local friends who liked me for who I really am, regardless of what my training manual said about their morals and values. I hope other volunteers can be so lucky.
(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Amen!
[info]ladygaia
2005-06-28 01:07 (link)
Interesting about hair color, I have gone back to my natural hair color b/c of that. although I will hopefully be going to africa and am not sure about hair dye availability, and it was ugly in it's growing out stages (had dyed it black and I'm naturally light brown) so that was also a big factor.
(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)
Re: Amen!
[info]princesscoco
2005-06-28 03:09 (link)
Yeah I just let the purple streak fade out of my hair and it is dyed light blond and I am a dirty blond. If I get clearance I plan on dying it back to natural, boy are my roots bad right now!
(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Amen!
[info]fidlerpcv
2005-06-28 17:41 (link)
Well, mine was purple and I was tired of it anyway. And, of course, my natural blond hair, blue eyes, and 5'8" height REALLY helped me to physically assimilate in Southeast Asia. ;-)
(Reply to this) (Parent)
Central Asia
[info]c_double
2005-06-27 18:41 (link)
Being in Uzbekistan, I did not see many tattoos on host country nationals. They were tattoo parlors but they were few and far between. A few HCN's, mostly Russians, had tattoos. I do not have tats and do not like them for the fact that what do you do when you are old? I see older people and most of their tats were a spur-of-the-moment type thing. On somethin important, I would get a tat.
I understand PC's position, in some places it will cause you undue attention. The PC wants you to assimilate as seamlessly and quickly as possible. Coming from a black male, attention is somethin that I lived with overseas, so a tat or piercing wouldn't do nothin to my assimilation.
Uzbeks would understand some social faux pases because they drink with the best of them, but lookin different would have been a problem. Similarity is a big thing.
(Reply to this)
[info]wolf_nd_shadows
2005-06-27 18:51 (link)
In peace Corps, you have to work within a culture, and therefore work within cultural norms. Remember, you are not going there to change a culture, you are there to extend techniques to help the culture develop where it wants to go. I was told that my long hair would prevent me from working in places like guatamala because of cultural prejudices. these restrictions do not reflect peace corps prejudices, but an understanding that you will have to conform to certain norms in your service, or else the Host Country Nationals (aka the locals) will not be able to work with you as constructively as it may be hoped
(Reply to this)
[info]mokey4
2005-06-27 18:53 (link)
I have never discussed this issue with RPCV friends from EE/CA regions, and I'm an Africa RPCV so I don't know enough to agree/disagree with regard to this region.
But I will tell you that I am pretty shocked about it. PC did make a big deal out of fitting in physically in Ghana, but tattoos were never discussed. I had PCV friends with tattoos, and I don't think they received much notice from locals or PC staff. Ghanaians don't have any notions about tattoos or piercings, as far as I could tell.
The thing PC/G harped on as far as appearance goes was clothing, and they were pretty much correct to do so. Women couldn't wear shorts or miniskirts, because Ghanaians didn't. Tight-fitting clothes were out too. Sleeveless was ok but not preferred, and definitely not strappy. But that made sense because it's how almost all Ghanaians dressed. In countries where fashions are more westernized, it seems silly to insist on being so conservative. Anyway Americans are never going to pass for locals (except in some rare cases), they just need to dress well enough to show respect.
This seems to be an issue where whoever is making these decisions at PC headquarters is out of touch with on the ground realities. Hopefully they will not succeed.
(Reply to this) (Thread)
[info]earth_nomad
2005-06-27 19:25 (link)
:/
I was in Ghana 2 summers ago helping at an international school in Kumasi. One student made the mistake of jokingly saying I was a prostitute (based on my multiple piercings) because apparently that is one of their characteristics. There was something of a hubbub that was eventually sorted out..explaining that different people in different cultures consider different things beautiful/acceptable. Sooo..I guess that is somethign to be careful of. Easy enough to remove most piercings though
(Reply to this) (Parent)
[info]elleoj05
2005-06-27 19:04 (link)
I think if you can cover them up easily tatoos should most definately be allowed.
Part of going to the host country is teaching them about Americans and theoretically their diversity. I'd see having a tattoo as being similar to explaining to a host national your decision to be a vegetarian or any other personal life choice. It will be an extra thing that may single you out as different but not necessarily something that would jeopardize your ability to serve effectively.
I think that if the PC saw this as an opportunity for cultural exchange, it could be positive. I'm not advocating pushing American ideas or beliefs on people, but you can't exactly erase a tatoo from your body and for these reasons I don't think its fair to discriminate against people on the basis of tattoos.
I think the PC should make an effort to educate people with tattoos and piercings about the extra strain they could possibly face in country, but I don't think the PC should arbitrate such a decision.
btw I don't have any tattoos.
*Joelle
Burkina Faso
departure: July 30, 2005
(Reply to this) (Thread)
[info]thelitterbox
2005-06-27 21:46 (link)
I agree with you, that it's part of our teaching them about American culture. I have two tattoos, one is on my right foot and one is easily hidden on my back.
When I went in for my interview in May I asked if the tattoo on my foot would be a problem, and she said probably not. I was more concerned that since it's a Christian symbol it might not be kosher, but she told me that as long as I wasn't evangelizing to the people and trying to convert them then I shouldn't really worry about it.
(Reply to this) (Parent)
[info]princesscoco
2005-06-27 19:28 (link)
In my view you can't tell me that because I have a tattoo I will not be able to do a job as well as the next person which is what it SHOULD come down to. WHO can do the job not what they look like.
I have 8 tattoos and I know that they haven't stopped me from doing anything in my life thus far. I have worked for the Department of Energy in Washington DC where I did cover then up for a time (it was winter and 6 are on my legs) One day I came in a shorter skirt and everyone said "wow we didn't know you had tattoos" and okay, life went on.
If PC makes a big deal of it then of course others will, if they are being told to. It is discrimination for no reason.
Jen, when you do the interview do you have to turn in a description of what the person looks like? Do you report to PC if people have piercings and dyed hair and tattoos?
I understand some countries are not as accepting of it but also the people that have tattoos (or so I think) understand that not everybody will welcome you with open arms, and I deal with in the states and I'll deal with it around the world. That is the thing, I decided to do that and I know know the consequences. No big deal. In my last job I explained to little kids what tattoos were and all the mothers loved me. That could have gone the other way but because I am a good person they didn't care. Most of these very conservatives mom's at one point or another pulled me asides to ask me about them and told me how they always wanted one!
It is ridiculous discrimination on PC's part!
(Reply to this) (Thread)
[info]yggdrassill
2005-06-27 20:00 (link)
I do not have to write down if you have tattoos or not. But that may change. Placement likes it is you do give a description of the physical person if they have artistic hair, piercings or tats.
Another disturbing thing is that volunteers with corn rows are often asked to shave them when they get in-country. I heard a lot about that this past week. I find that a bit unnerving because that is part of diversity within the African American culture, from my understanding.
(Reply to this) (Parent)
[info]rettiger
2005-06-27 20:00 (link)
I'm invited to Paraguay and we were warned that we had to remove all facial piercings before we would be allowed to leave for paraguay, and that we were strongly encouraged to keep visible tattoos covered for our first 6 months on site. Is this part of the new policy or is this SOP, I wonder..
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[info]yggdrassill
2005-06-27 20:05 (link)
There is no new policy in place yet. It is just a warning to you about how locals may feel about your "first impression."
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[info]rettiger
2005-06-27 20:11 (link)
Yeah. I'm removing my vertical labret before I go, but I was fully expecting to have to before I left. I can always have it redone.
Tattoos are ovbiously a different story.
(Reply to this) (Parent)
[info]malwae
2005-06-27 20:20 (link)
Well I was wondering when this was going to come up. It's been about 3 years for me dealing with PC, starting from application, through service in Uzbekistan, and now home. During that time I have seen a really unsavory Conservatizing of PC. And I mean conservative in the moral majority right wing family values religous right sense, not the fiscal responsibility sense. The **** that went down in Uzbekistan was a truly spectacular demonstration of how an ideology shift in the White House eventually trickles down to organizations like PC.
Its an unavoidable reality of the nature of Peace Corps, which sends poorly compensated volunteers with foggy job descriptions and minimal training into every corner of the world which is lagging behind and isn't actively involved in a war, that very few policies at the DC level are going to make sense in all circumstances. There simply isn't the manpower, budget, resources, or organizational skill to research every post and decide what is appropriate and what isn't. Just in Uzbekistan, we have two differing viewpoints. c_double served in the middle part of the country, I served in the west. My husband, who was greatly respected and admired in the community, had both a tattoo and piercings. I have a facial peircing, and the only comments I got were envious enquiries about how I got it and requests for me to perform piercings. It was cool because they had seen it on MTV, and Karakalpaks traditionally did facial piercings before the Soviets came in and wholloped them with a dose of Marxist uniformity. Being pierced and tattooed in Karakalpakstan was a big big positive, whereas in c_double's area it would have been a negative. All in the same country.
I completely understand and agree with the emphasis on fitting in. But since the standards of fitting in vary so widely among regions and ethnic groups, these mandates from on high are useless and smack of somebody trying to look busy and prove to Congress that they are enforcing Decency. The tattoo/piercing thing is only marginally applicable when it come down to it. A volunteer's behaviour is far, far more important. From what I've seen, clothing choice and demeanor is much more important than a permanent characteristic like a tattoo. I spent a lot of time in service apologizing profusely for one of the other volunteers who careened through her service with no sense of professionalism in her dress or behaviour with men. In Karakalpakstan, if you insist on wearing tennis shoes to teach your class full of students in full business suits and dress shoes, you will cause far more problems than if you happened to have your lip pierced. And no matter how conservative your haircut, if you get drunk and belligerant people will think far worse of you than if you had the mark of the beast tattooed across you forehead.
And so for recruiting, yes, that does suck. And it will continue to suck (and probably get worse) until there is another ideology shift in the White House, and then it will take some years for PC to relax its rules. I don't envy your job. I doubt this is the end of it.
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[info]yggdrassill
2005-06-27 20:34 (link)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for telling this community your side from a Central Asia standpoint, ESPECIALLY from Uzbekistan. And thanks to c_double, too.
Can you email me at jmarciniak@peacecorps.gov? I have a question for you.
(Reply to this) (Parent)
[info]vesuviokitten
2005-06-27 21:34 (link)
Is it generally OK for men to wear their hair long? Seeing that I will serve in the Ghanaian rainforest, I may desire to cut it anyhow - but I really don't want to if it isn't detrimental to my health.
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[info]yggdrassill
2005-06-27 21:54 (link)
Yet another bullshit issue. They are talking about also hair should be cut professionally in all cases before you go. Two of the most resourceful, smart and successful men in my group had long hair and beards in Romania. But in Ghana, I have no idea what the conduct consideration may be.
Can a Ghana RPCV or vol answer this one??
Jen
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[info]mokey4
2005-06-28 00:12 (link)
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I think PC/Ghana told the guys that they should cut their hair, because men with long hair were viewed as drug users (which is a very bad reputation to have in Ghana). However, they didn't mandate it (at least in 97-99 when I was there), and a lot of guys either kept their hair long or grew it out at site. And they were mostly fine. I think this goes along with what <lj-user="malwae"> was saying, that the way people perceive you depends A LOT more on your behavior, your professionalism, and the way you dress. Clothes are VERY important in Ghana. But as an American, you are already going to look & seem different to Ghanaians, and having long hair can just be considered one of those differences. As long as you have the right attitude, you can get away with long hair. I would advise keeping it somewhat clean & neat, although even that's not an absolute.
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[info]vivalamuerte
2005-06-27 23:41 (link)
This is really silly. Couldn't the same arguement be made for not sending overweight people to a country where people don't have the luxury of overeating? (I am overweight and that difference worries me more that the one created by the three holes in each ear or the tattoo on my arm.) Or not sending people with really obvious, elective plastic surgery because it's not done in other countries?
Americans of all stripes now get tattoos and they get them for different reasons than people in other countries. Americans are already going to stand out for a huge number of reasons. Lacking body modifications isn't going to change that. If Bushie wants a Peace Corps that looks like a J. Crew catalogue and is also doubled in size, I don't know how that's going to happen.
(Reply to this) (Thread)
[info]mokey4
2005-06-28 00:15 (link)
Not exactly on-topic, but in Ghana bigger was definitely better. Especially if you gained weight in-country, because it meant that you were happy and well-taken care of.
(Reply to this) (Parent)
[info]happybunnygal
2005-06-28 02:10 (link)
I asked my friend who works at HQ about the tattoos and she didn't any clue what I was talking about. Heck, she goes to work there with a small nose ring.
Hmmmm, interesting conversation though, very interesting.
I believe that if you are capable of doing the job then it's ok. I understand about the cultural sensitivity issue but we are not all clones. it is good advice to cover up until you feel more comfortable in your surroundings when arriving.
(Reply to this) (Thread)
[info]yggdrassill
2005-06-28 15:53 (link)
I am not suprised your friend would not know about it. This is purely an issue with the EE/CA county desk staff, and is not near policy at this time, at least as far as we know. This is just a huge issue that the staff brought to us recruiters at a conference last week, and they talked to us like it was OUT fault as recruiters that people were being sent away from staging to EMA countries because of tattoos. And we had no idea it was an issue before they condescendingly brought it up to us.
(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)
[info]happybunnygal
2005-06-28 18:27 (link)
Wow that is extreme!!!
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