The Art of Gauging

     Lke tattoos, gauging (also know as ear stretching), could be dated back to Otzi, an Iceman who died around 3300 B.C, and whose body was found in 1991 with tattoos and gauges. Ear stretching is also something that has been long practiced in some ancient tribes in Africa and other parts of the world. In the Mursi Tribe in Ethiopia, having stretched ears and lips meant that a female has reached a certain point of maturity. In some Asian tribes, it was seen as a way for women to enhance their beauty.

     There are several ways to stretch the ears and achieve the desired size. In the past, one way was to use weights. Large weighted earings were used to stretch the lobes. This is not something that is commonly used in modern day practice. The most common way today is by tapering, pushing a rod that is bigger on one end through the earlobe to stretch it. There is also dead stretching, where a big piece of jewelry is simply forced through the piercing, but can lead to tearing of the flesh. Another way is to use a scalpel to cut around the existing piercing so that its diameter could be expanded. Others also opt for silicone plugs, soft plugs that can be folded and inserted into the piercing and once inside, they expand and stretch the ear lobe.

     Just like with tattoos and piercings, gauging has become more common in this day and age and though there are not many statistics, "there is extensive anecdotal evidence that ear stretching is on the rise" (McClatchey). There are many popular artists wearing them such as rapper Travie Mccoy and singer Adam Lambert. As teens see their favorite artists with stretched ears, they become intrigued and some follow suit. DIY kits have become more widely available and there's a great variety of jewelry to choose from.

     Gauges has been seen on catwalks and on celebrities. It's not just for hippies, punks or for the rock crowd. It can suit anyone from a girly girl to a grown man. It has become more mainstream in the past decade and though there are those who might find it scary or even disgusting, for those who have it, it is "a thing of beauty"(McClatchey).



McClatchey, Caroline. "Ear Stretching: Why Is Lobe 'gauging' Growing in Popularity?" BBC News. BBC, 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"The History, Method, and Warnings of Ear Gauging." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Mohan, Rohini. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 30 May 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.