My Grandmother pierced ears from home with a darning needle, corks & ice cubes. I grew up in a fishing port, ear rings were often seen. Usually women had both ears pierced, straight men the left, gay men right & bi men both. I remember seeing a giant Irishman with red hair down to his ass faint at my Grandmother's house as he watched her pierce ears. He was scared of no one, would fight anyone anytime & could start his Norton Commando by hand!