Blog #10- The Bigger The Hoop

Many people, especially in the Latin culture, get their baby's ears pierced at a young age. More often than not, the baby's first earing would be a hoop earring. Why is that? 

I asked my grandma why people do that, and she said, "I do it so people know the baby is a girl". When I searched the reason on google, romadesignerjewelry.com explained that hoop earrings are "a symbol of strength, identity, and resistance to discrimination". I believe both have a strong influence on the decision to pierce their baby's ears. 

Throughout all of history, Latin women have been discriminated, assaulted, and treated inhumanely. However, hoop earrings reminded them that they were powerful and connected to something of much value- their culture. Hoop earrings originated in Mesopotamia, but they were often used by Egyptian queens (Cleopatra and Nefertiti) or worn to show appreciation to Latin Gods. Women would wear their hoops earrings with pride. 

There was a time when hoops wear seen as "trashy" or even "unprofessional", but politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore the iconic hoop earrings to a political event and opened up the floor to hoops being taken more seriously.  

Although my grandma didn't phrase it correctly, I believe she meant that hoop earrings are a girl's rite-of-passage. As said before, hoop earrings show ones identity, and the way women wear their hoops says a lot about them. The size, width, color, and design can explain ones maturity, boldness, style, and personality. For instance, sometimes I like to wear big, think, and gold hoops with intriguing designs. I usually wear them when I go to quinces, bailes, or family events. Some other times, I'll wear smaller, thin, silver hoops when it's a relaxing day. 

No matter what, hoop earrings have maintained a staple in fashion and power throughout history, and it will continue to stay that way.

To Be Continued . . .