Tattoo Culture

Tattoos are common place in society today. No longer are they only on bikers or bad guys; now they are on doctors, lawyers and even pastors. Tattoos no longer determine a person’s character or who they are. They are a way of expressing oneself and showing experiences in a person’s life or expressions of meaningful things. Even older people are getting "ink" put on them. For as much as they are accepted in society, they are also still looked down upon. Having tattoos can affect being hired for a job and that can be looked upon as discrimination. Having tattoos does change a person’s possibility of getting hired for a job, although it should not.

Tattoos have been around for quite some time now, and they have always been a symbol of belonging, cultural expression or for religion. These days, individuals choose to tattoo themselves because it is part of their lifestyle or personal image. While continuing to grow in popularity and becoming a lifestyle, people are facing issues with having visible tattoos in the workforce. Although it is a form of free expression, employers have a right to enforce certain rules about tattoos in their company because they have a public image to uphold. How you present yourself to the public is solely important, which is why tattoos should not be allowed to be seen in the workplace, since it may appear offensive or unconservative.

Depending on the style one wants, it is said that some cultures may have rules as to what requirements need to be met to get certain tattoos. Polynesian tattoos have been a tradition that has been carried on from about two thousand years ago. “Tattooing is a sacred ceremony in Polynesian culture. The tattoos and their location on the body were determined by one’s genealogy, position within the society and personal achievements.” (PolynesianTattoo). This quote clearly displays the concept that only certain people, depending on their position in society, have the privilege to get certain tattoos and in certain areas of their body. This also allows others to recognize and identify that person’s position in society. In Polynesian cultures, tattoos

Although there is history that proves tattoos were used for many reasons, some people still fell into groups that are considered stereotypes. The stereotypes of people with tattoos were considered to be criminals, drug addicts, or habitual underachievers. There is somewhat of a statistical truth to that slander. Sadly when it came to people who had chosen to show their tattoos in public, the stereotype is all too real. That is no surprise though; people with tattoos are treated poorly by the majority. Traditionally, tattoo clientele was considered to be that of bikers, bad-boy personalities, and truckers; however all that seems to be changing. There is still the tough guy image to contend with. However, it is mostly just with the older population. Chris Weskamp told the Denver Business Journal

“The nicest people I have ever met are covered in tattoos, while the most judgment people that I have met are the once who don’t have tattoos” (Earl Dibbles). When someone sees a person with a bunch of tattoos, maybe the first thing that comes to their mind is Thug, stupid, thief, or maybe even crazy. Judging a person off of first feeling with tattoos can lead to false allegation and potentially hurt a person’s feelings. Tattoos have existed since the beginning of civilization and although widespread now, there are still misconceptions about them. I have come across many people with tattoos, especially my friend which is MMA fighter; his name is Nasratullah Akhunzada. He has a bunch of tattoos on his body. First of all, he loses his job cause of his tattoos

Tattoos are changing because more and more people are realizing that the reputations associated with tattoos are not usually true. Tattoo culture is not in any way, shape or form different from my culture. My culture is American and the tattoo culture that I chose to do is based on the American side of tattooing. Today tattoos are seen as more of a way of expressing oneself as opposed to being seen as destruction to the body. American tattoo culture is unique because it gives people a sense of individuality to express themselves. It gives the quiet people a voice and the outgoing people a way to express themselves other than speaking. Tattoos speak to people. Some tattoos mean peace, tranquility, and happiness while other tattoos may mean

Introduction: Is there anyone here that does not like tattoos or likes them, but would never think of getting one? Today, tattoos are a growing in popularity when before tattoos were only seen on people in a circus as an act or on military veterans who wanted to display their troop proudly. Even though there is this growing popularity of tattoos, entry-level jobs require strict dress code policies disapproving the sight of tattoos while at work.

Growing up, everyone is told that they should express themselves, to be proud of who they are and what they stand for; tattoos and piercings are just another

As someone that has been in a position of a hiring manager, and someone with tattoos, I have been on both sides of this debate. While I do appreciate that my employer does not require it, I personally keep my tattoos covered most of the time. I want to be judged by my skills and not what someone thinks of my body art. When someone does notice my tattoos, I often get the “Wow, I would have never thought you would have tattoos” comment. I understood many perceptions of me could possibly change when I decided to get tattooed, therefore I chose to get them where they can be easily covered. This has been a personal choice on how to approach this subject. I would be much more comfortable with having them visible; I see them as much a part of me as I do my hair color.

Tattoos have become a part of people’s lives. Thirty years ago, one out of every one hundred people had at least one tattoo (Feygin, NP), so you can imagine how high the numbers are now. People get tattoos because they are personal to them. Tattoos are a form of art for most people, something occurs in their lives and they get it permanently on their skin to represent a memory. “A tattoo is defined as an indelible mark fixed upon the body by inserting pigment under the skin” (Dinter, 15). Tattoos are a way for people to express themselves; therefore, they should be allowed to be visible in the workplace.

No one should have to deal with dirty looks, or being suspected of being a criminal because they chose to display art, or express their personality. This type of discrimination does however happen all the time, and it doesn’t just apply to tattoos. People may give you dirty looks because you wear a graphic T-Shirt with images or phrases that differ from their own beliefs. In this country especially people should be able to go out in public and express themselves without feeling discriminated against.

Tattoos in general are a great way to add individuality and beautiful artwork onto your body that lasts a lifetime. Most people either love or hate the idea of people having tattoos. But why is this? Do people just not like how they look or do they just not understand them enough to appreciate the work and effort that goes into creating a beautiful piece of permanent artwork? I believe that if people were to better understand the people that do them, and the process of actually getting them done, that they will accept that they may not be as bad as they think.

Not only have attitudes towards tattoos changed from their historic start but also the reasons for getting them. As time progressed so did the art of the tattoo, it has largely always been a favorite of individuals serving in the armed forces but outcast archetypes began to use tattoos as an outlet for artistic expression and shock value. Biker gangs all along the West Coast used tattoos to signify which gang they belonged to. Rock stars began to paint themselves with tattoos to illustrate their outlaw ways. Rock n’ Roll was the devils music to those unfamiliar ears listening to it in the mid 20th century and so anything deemed “cool” by them were from then on out banned by most middle to upper class citizens. It was not the act itself of painting your body it was what it represented. Teenagers acting out

Today, older generations view tattoos as trashy, unclassy, and unprofessional; while younger generations think they are more acceptable, art like, and a way to further express yourself. Tattoos today are becoming more accepted by the younger generations. As a result of this it is now much easier to have visible tattoos in a workplace today, then it was years ago, but tattoos still have a long way to go before being completely accepted like they are amongst other countries, and/or cultures.

There are many employers that have the opinion that having visible tattoos is unacceptable for the professional work environment. Someone with a tattoo is seen as uneducated and possible dangerous. However, there is no solid evidence to support either of those beliefs. The stigma of sporting a visible tattoo has no validity. A person with tattoos is just as knowledgeable and capable of working as a non-tattooed person. Tattoos, whether visible or covered, do not change a person’s individual work ethic or how educated they are.