It's trendy in today's fashion for young people to pierce their ears and adorn them with thick, decorative jewelry and cosmetics. people who pierce their ears are a standard size can also stretch the earlobe using a gradual process that some people call gauging.

    According to Carly Wickell from Aboutme.com, "It is a trend right now for young people to wear pierced earrings fashioned with thick, decorative posts and rings. It takes some time to stretch the ear lobe hole, but if you do it fully, you'll be able to wear newer styles and keep your ear lobes healthy."

    Most people's ears are pierced with 20-18 gauge needle (see picture). Common gauge sizes are named in even numbers down to 00. With the size increase the numbers decrease. there are larger gauges that are expressed as fractions such as 7/8ths.

 MacArthur High School senior Dallas Powell said, "I gauge my ears because of the tradition in Africa; people in tribes would gauge their ears to show their strength and bravery." However MHS sophomore Dylan Clayborn said, "I think some people that have gauges do it just as a statement of expression to stick out and be different, or maybe they think it is cool, so they do it for a type of style.

    Mrs. Claudia Alicea, MHS algebra teacher said, "I think they're pretty interesting because when I was in high school, I did far out piercing trends. I think that they are similar because gauging is a trend for students now. I just worry about what their ears will look like in 20 years." On the other hand, junior Kevin Ezerski said, "I never have thought about gauging my ears because I personally just think it's weird. However if people do it, then that's cool. I just wouldn't do it." MacArthur High School's Pre-Ap Biology Mr. Larry Dipprey said, "I think gauging is self mutilation."