Effects Of Tattoos In Western Society

For the past two millennium people have had tattoos, these people over the years ranged from warriors, royalty, sailors, circus workers, bikers, and more recently even doctors, lawyers, as well as the average everyday person. More recently, over at least the past century or two, more and more people have discriminated against people with tattoos. Over the past thirty years the only people to have openly displayed any tattoos were usually inmates or sailors. Considering that these men were usually away from home for long periods of time, where the people at home where looking down on people with visible ink already, and wasn’t susceptible to the lifestyle of tattooing. As more people became influenced by this reoccurring lifestyle, more people

Gradually the acceptance of tattoos seeped into the Western society, which led to the tattoo fad in England and USA in the late 1800s (Caplan, 2000). Despite the historical stigma, the fashionable society started adorning tattoos as a social expression. What started as a fad for the working classes, soon spread to the upper classes. Interestingly, the trend did not unify people of different classes. The upper class discriminated the tattooed lower class and saw their tattoos as a sign of deviance.

Tattoos have been dated back to 5000 BCE. Tattoos have played the role of being badges of honor, ceremonial markings, signs off social rank, forms of punishment, and of course ways for people to beautify themselves (The Cultural History of Tattoos). Over the past years, tattoos has increased and continues to increase significantly in popularity. According to statistics, 36% of American adults in the U.S. between the ages of 18-25 and 40% of American adults in the U.S. between the ages of 26-40 have at least one tattoo (Seth). While the trend of getting tattoos are increasing, the concerns of the employers starts to increase. People who have tattoos should not be discriminated because it is unethical, a form of self-expression, and art.

Tattoos have likely been at the top of the list as the most discussed topic amongst the different social classes. There is a divide between societies understanding of tattoos, those who oppose them identify tattoos as being a form of “taboo” and is associated with a type of body modification that is seen as distasteful in nature. Others believe tattoos are a form of one’s own self-expression. Although tattoos are subjective to each person, we should not completely rule them out altogether because they are perceived and sometimes deemed inappropriate, that is a form of stereotyping.

We as a society continuously pass judgements on people, and stamp them with some sort of false identification that doesn’t fully begin to describe them. Stereotypes is a wide understanding and or image constructed on a certain party of people, to stereotype is to form an opinion on a person based on appearance with no factual evidence to support your claim. Now, when you see people with tattoos , body piercings, or even dreadlocks you begin to form opinions on that person. It’s called judging a book by it’s cover, but it’s so commonly done that it doesn’t seem like you’re doing anything wrong when you’re judging that person. In two separate texts titled, “Tattoos and Body Piercings: Self Expression or Self Mutilation?” by Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, and “Dreadlocked,” by Veronica Chambers, it’ll explain the different stereotypes and repercussions of getting tattoos, body piercings, or dreadlocks. Which brings me to the question; What causes one to choose certain forms of expression and/or appearance? And what are the effects of these choices? People think of the additions to their appearance (tattoos, piercings, hairstyles) as a form of expression, but often times they forget the negatives of these features such as; permanence, stereotyping, and possible medical risks.

When you think of social issues there are many that come to mind ,but there is one that though it effects many is overlooked. That issue is the acceptance of tattoos into our main stream culture. Tattoos actually have a very long history in our culture but in the past, was concentrated in small out of the way pockets of society like the military and criminals. This has slowly started to change and tattoos have started to make their way into the commonplace. This transition into an age of acceptance is not only moral move but a logical one, this claim can be justified with the with deep traditional roots and personal experience that tattoos hold for the people that adorn their skin with them.

Seen as symbols of life accomplishments or beauty, tattoos have become a worldwide trend. Individuals have been getting tattoos for many centuries, with the earliest ones dating back to 5,200 years ago. It all started with their important role in rituals and tradition. As they slowly began to be associated with smoking and alcohol abuse (The Economist, “How a Tattoo Affects Your Job Perspectives”), the amount of people getting them increased. Today, 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo (“Tattoo Statistics”). Tattoos are permanent markings on the skin that increase the difficulty to get hired for a job and are against some religions, such as Islam, making them a trend that people should not follow.

A tattoo is a form of art that is put on the body by putting permanent ink into the dermis layer of the skin. Having a tattoo can be wonderful or a terrible thing. As of 2014, 36 percent of Americans aged 18-25 have at least one tattoo. Tattoos have recently made this big impact. “Twenty five years ago, tattoos were actually quite common... on sailors, prison inmates, and members of tough motorcycle gangs. If you looked at accountants, pro ping-pong players, or shoe salesmen though, it would have been pretty rare to find some ink. So what happened?” (“Thobo-Carlsen”). It is believed that tattoo became a part of pop culture back in 2005 when the TV show “Miami Ink” was aired. According to Thobo-Carlsen’s Huffing Post before the show

The art of tattooing has been around for centuries, with origins dating back before the year 325, when it was banned by the Roman Empire and made its return once again around the 18th century via British explorers returning from Polynesia. Tattooing practices vary around the world, specifically in their meaning and significance cross-culturally. For instance, tattooing practices and significance in Western cultures vary significantly than in non-Western cultures. Specifically, in traditional cultures, tattooing often marks a crucial period or a rite of passage in an individual’s life, such as the transition from childhood into adulthood. In Polynesian societies, specifically amongst the Maori people, the art of tattooing plays a vital role

Have you been unknowingly putting toxic substances into your body? If you have tattoos it is very possible that you have and you could be at risk for many other complications. Tattoos have been around for decades but have significantly gained popularity in the last few years in the younger generations. In a study carried out by the Public Opinion Laboratory at Northern Illinois University in 2006, they found that out of 500 people randomly chosen for the interview 120 of them had tattoos (Laumann 2006). This is a high number considering that before the present day, tattoos were considered a social stigma only being seen on those radical individuals of a society.

Tattoos have been popular throughout time all over the world. Yet, rumors have it that tattoos are a modern day trend that originated in prison. Tattooing actually dates back to five thousand years ago. They have not just become some new pop culture fad. Prehistoric clans, ancient Egyptians, Native Americans, sailors, circus people, royalty, celebrities, and plenty of young adults today have all participated in some form of body art. Tattooing has played a significant role in mythologies and customs in ancient cultures. In American, tattoos were introduced by sailors returning from expeditions in Europe during the late seventeen hundreds and the early eighteen hundreds. Tattoos became “trendy” in America through said sailors and bikers, which showed they had a look of respect and dignity within their groups.

Tattoos have been a cultural practice in Japan since the Bronze Age, spanning the globe throughout time. Tattoos have been used throughout history for many things; from distinguishing military members, personal accomplishments, and spiritual symbols (Squires 2017). Each cultural throughout history has their own beliefs and meanings behind the tattoos they get. Most cultures also have very specific designs for certain parts of the body and a ritual and application process that is uniquely their own. The Japanese have a very distinct artistic style and application techniques as well as the deep spiritual meanings of their tattoos Japanese tattoos began as way to convey your social status or used a charm for protection or luck.

According to Lemma, tattoos have been around for over 5000 years now (149). Across the world today, there are several cultures that have used tattoos as a cultural identity tool, and at the same time, millions of people have been influenced to copy these cultures and get their tattoos inked onto their skin. However, some people get tattoos for beauty reasons, cult identity, for fantasy or just through peer pressure. Over the recent decades, tattoos have become an issue of controversy in some professions. While others feel that tattoos are not suitable for certain jobs, an almost equal number of others are against the idea. Those against tattoos at some workplaces cite professionalism, protection of the organization’s image and repute and the socio-cultural perception of tattoos. Those who are not against tattoos in the workplace argue that some people have cultures that need them to be inked and that tattooing is a form of freedom of expression. This paper argues that tattoos are not suitable for certain jobs.

Imagine the United States president tattooed from head to toe. Would he look strange? Would he even be president of the United States? Oddly enough tattoos play a huge stereotypical role in today's society. People all across America are too scared to ink their body because they are afraid they will not get accepted into a job they want, or be able to do much of anything that a non tattooed person does. I think tattoos should be considered a normality. Tattoos should not affect an opinion, used to show expression, and should not have an age limit.

The art of tattooing has changed in modern times quite drastically. It is slowly becoming more acceptable to own and display tattoos on one’s body. In more conservative times, those with tattoos were looked on as social outcast, turned down for jobs and seen as strange outsiders. However, within the past half century, tattoos have steadily become more acceptable. Millions of people in America now proudly tattoo their skin, with everything from religious symbols to naked women. There is a whole industry based around tattoos, tattoo care, and basically everything tattoo. There are now expensive clothing lines that base their imagery on tattoo art, such as the Ed Hardy brand (no matter how stupid the clothes