A bubbly geriatric nurse was harshly criticized because of her tattoos, hair color, and multiple piercing. Though she responded with a smile, she took her stand on Facebook as she wrote a heart-warming letter intended for people who usually shame others for having ink on their skin and body piercings.
Mary Walls Penney takes care of patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease. She wrote a lengthy post on Facebook explaining how she was shamed because of her looks as per Today's report.
Mary mentioned that a cashier from a grocery stored asked her what her profession was, to which she mentioned that she was a nurse. The cashier shamed her stating that she was surprised with the fact that Mary was allowed to work for the hospital. Mary kept her cool and decided to share her point on Facebook.
"My tattoos have never kept them from holding my hand and as they lay frightened and crying because Alzheimer's has stolen their mind," Mary Walls Penney wrote. "My multiple ear piercings have never interfered with me hearing them reminisce about their better days or listening to them as they express their last wishes."
She then discussed how her piercings never prohibited her to do her job. She then added that her appearance does not hinder her capacity to take care of her patients.
"My tongue piercing has never kept me from speaking words of encouragement to a newly diagnosed patient or from comforting a family that is grieving," she added. "So, please explain to me how my appearance, while being paired with my cheerful disposition, servant's heart, and smiling face, has made me unfit to provide nursing care and unable to do my job!"
Though tattoos and body piercings may not prohibit one's capability to provide an outstanding job, Refinery 21 noted that it can potentially affect the possibility of getting hired. A call to stop tattoo discrimination is in the works, yet it is still not considered my some corporate companies.
