Scene Five: September 27, 2007:
Including and Engaging people with body modifications: What's the point?
Participants at the fifth session took this self-assessment to identify how much they, and their organizations, accept different forms of body modification. Each of these forms of body modifications vary from one another in severity and in the issue of "choice."
SELF ASSESSMENT: BODY MODIFICATION
Here are the participant results
| Body Modification | I have personally had, or use, this body modification | I would feel comfortable working with someone who had this | Someone with this body modification could be successful in my organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botox treatment | Yes: 1 No: 71 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 71 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 69 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
| Breast enhancement or reduction | Yes: 2 No: 70 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 70 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 2 |
Yes: 70 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
| Colored contacts | Yes: 6 No: 66 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 71 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 70 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
| Cosmetic surgery | Yes: 2 No: 70 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 68 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 2 |
Yes: 69 No: 3 Unsure: 0 |
| Dreadlocks | Yes: 2 No: 70 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 70 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 47 No: 20 Unsure/Maybe: 5 |
| Ears pierced | Yes: 51 No: 21 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 71 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 67 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 4 |
| Hair dyed | Yes: 46 No: 26 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 71 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 66 No: 3 Unsure/Maybe: 3 |
| Implants of any kind | Yes: 0 No: 72 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 65 No: 3 Unsure/Maybe: 3 |
Yes: 58 No: 10 Unsure/Maybe: 4 |
| Liposuction | Yes: 2 No: 70 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 68 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 59 No: 7 Unsure/Maybe: 6 |
| Nose ring | Yes: 4 No: 68 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 66 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 3 |
Yes: 39 No: 23 Unsure/Maybe: 10 |
| Permanent tattooed eye lashes, eyebrows, or lipstick | Yes: 2 No: 70 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 68 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 59 No: 7 Unsure/Maybe: 6 |
| Scarification or branding | Yes: 0 No: 71 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 55 No: 8 Unsure/Maybe: 8 |
Yes: 36 No: 23 Unsure/Maybe: 13 |
| Tattoo in a location that is not generally visible | Yes: 12 No: 60 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 71 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 66 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 4 |
| Tattoo in a visible location | Yes: 2 No: 70 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 66 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 4 |
Yes: 35 No: 23 Unsure/Maybe: 14 |
| Tongue pierced | Yes: 0 No: 72 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 63 No: 5 Unsure/Maybe: 4 |
Yes: 38 No: 27 Unsure/Maybe: 7 |
| Tummy Tuck | Yes: 1 No: 71 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 71 No: 0 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 69 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 2 |
| Use of make-up | Yes: 54 No: 18 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 70 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 69 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 2 |
| Wigs | Yes: 5 No: 67 Unsure/Maybe: 0 |
Yes: 70 No: 1 Unsure/Maybe: 1 |
Yes: 63 No: 2 Unsure/Maybe: 7 |
| Other | x | x | x |
Notable comments:
More than one respondent noted that considering an individual's gender related to the question would alter the answer choice.
Several respondents felt that "success" needed to be defined, and that some of the question stems would be acceptable only at certain levels within the company.
The type of modification within each question stem would determine the answer as well (example: what type of visible tattoo, what type of implant, etc).
Respondents were least comfortable with scarification. Those with tongue piercings were said to have the worst chance of attaining success in business.
Scene Five was the fifth session of the 2007 NW Diversity Learning Series, Life Theater - Inclusion and Engagement: Challenging and Expanding My Diversity Competency: Moving Beyond My Comfort Zone. The Series, held in Seattle, WA, is organized by The GilDeane Group, publishers of DiversityCentral.com.
Presenters were Donna Stringer, President, Executive Diversity Services, Seattle, WA, and Jamie Barber, corporate employee, Seattle, WA,