What is the ruling on piercing the ear cartilage (pinna), and is it true that it is associated with erroneous beliefs such as perversion?

Piercing a female's ear to hang earrings is permissible according to the preponderant opinion. There is no difference whether the piercing is at the bottom or the top, as long as it does not involve imitating disbelieving or immoral women, or if it is related to non-Islamic religious rituals. However, piercing the ear of an adult male is not permissible.