Tattoos and Criminal Behavior Essay

The audience’s expectations regarding the author’s prose might have been surprised towards what he had to say about the relationship between teenagers and tattoos. I would think the audience already considers it to be an academic article because that is what it looks like to me, but maybe the topic would be about something different. The evidence his audience expects him to use would be maybe statistics, but his case vignettes provide some evidence. They might think that teenagers are rebels and arrogant, but after reading the article, it is possible they open up their minds about it a bit more and consider that tattoos are not as bad as people make them out to be, especially when teenagers get them. Throughout Martin’s article, valid points are made as he views tattoos as a whole. He discusses tattoos as a form of identity as well as a permanent marking that the teenager uses as a sense of

Moderation is important when discussing tattooing and piercings. When tattooing, piercings, and body modifications began to alter the overall appearance of the individual, the individual would be considered deviant by majority of society. There are many individuals in the United States that have tattoos and piercings, but majority of the people have tattoos that can be concealed or tattoos and piercings that are not gaudy. An article titled, “Tattoos in the Workplace” discussed that in 2012 a poll was conducted that stated that 21% of adults in the United States had tattoos (Osland, 2013). However, nearly 60% of people that have tattoos, have them in areas that are hidden by clothes (Kesling, 2013). Although this study may not cover every single individual in the United States, it does give a

Beginning from a child we begin to experience different situations and interactions with others. We start getting taught the difference between right and wrong, what may be considered good and what is considered bad, and also taught the things we should and should not do. As we grow older we try to refrain from behavior of which society may disapprove of. Society see’s certain types of behavior as being deviant. First let’s begin by explaining what is a deviant behavior? Deviant behavior can be any behavior that does not conform to what people may consider normal, a behavior that does not meet with many expectations in society. Societies are both social structure and culture. Robert K Merton developed structural

Teenagers are rebellious by nature, as adolescence adventures down the road of self-identity. Teens are often viewed as the miscreants or vandals that plague the streets with their toxicity and obscene tendencies, and although aggravating, proves vital for increased maturity in future endeavors. However, teens can make decisions that last a lifetime, for example, tattoos. Tattoos are fairly controversial at younger ages, but are growing more and more popular amongst adolescents with the introduction and glorification of such body art by varying media, such as celebrities. Teenagers are exploring the realm of body modifications at ever increasing rate, but contradictory to common opinion, tattoos are a great candidate for an emotional catalyst, source of stability in a time of need, or reminders of time long far gone.

An Estimated 40 year ago those who received tattoos and various forms of body art were only prisoners, outlaw motorcycle gangs and those who were in the armed forces (Taylor, 2012). As more people demanded more ink, more businesses were opened, some tattoo artists began to fear the spread of blood borne pathogens such as hepatitis (Taylor, 2012). “If you do not know whom you are going to or what you are getting done, anywhere in Idaho, it is a risky situation” (Taylor, 2012). The minor could be put in a real high risk situation; a number of tattoo artists were calling for government intervention. The reasoning is that, the health department needs to step in, so tattoo parlors that do not take safety into account, can get shut down (Taylor, 2012).

Tattoos are a source of self-expression, and there are countless of ideas that one can forever ink on their body. There are people whose life story is captured and told by the inking that scatters their physique, yet there are others who believe this is a representation of a bad character. When I began digging, I knew that starting off with an individual's clashing experience with their tattoo would be

Traditionally, tattoos were meant for sailors, soldiers, bikers and gangs. Along with several changes in the industrialized and technological society of the twenty-first century, the standard for getting body modifications have altered as well. Everyday, people are willing to get permanently marked as an individual choice rather than the customarily perception of belonging to a certain group. Tattoo and piercing shops are not seen as “the backstreet” of the commercial civilization today, it is somewhat an expected sight in all public places. Josie Appleton in “The Body

The rising popularity of tattoos and body piercing is more than just the latest fashion craze. This type of body art has been a part of this world for thousands of years. Tattoos and piercings have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Smithsonian.com). In the later years (1940 – 2000) tattoos and piercings were more common among teenagers and young adults, but now, people of all ages are expressing themselves through body art. To try and understand this rise in the desire to permanently mark ones self, we must first determine the origin and history of tattoos and piercings.

On the most basic level, tattoos acted as a badge of social and cultural differentiation that separated the tattooed from the non-tattooed. On a deeper level, however, social and cultural homogeneity did not unite the tattooed, for the subject matter and aesthetic style of the tattoos created a fault-line that divided the classes. (Caplan, 2000, 148)

Tattoos have been around throughout our history, from Egyptian times to the present day. Many people may say they know the history of tattoos, and where they originate from, but do they really? Does one know that there were reasons that some people had tattoos? There may be people who know the actual history of tattoos and body art and why one would decide to get one; however there are people who do not. To be able to understand the idea of tattoos, one should educate themselves to the history of tattoos. Although tattoos have been considered taboo and a stereotype, history reveals that this particular form of body art has been used for self expression, status and

Tattooing has been part of the culture and identity of people through history. This type of body decoration was introduced in the Western Society by the British expeditionary and it has been described since then as a “promiscuous traveling sign, moving literally on the bodies of pilgrims, transported convicts, criminals, sailors, and soldiers.” (Rees, Michael,160) This explains the natural association that has prevailed till these days between tattoos and delinquency. This is associated mainly

Tattooing has become a mainstream event; about one in five adults in the United States have at least one tattoo (Stanglin, 2012). In the United States, tattoos were once seen as a symbol of rebellion. They were mostly seen on bikers or people who were consider tough. These stereotypes brought about the assumption that people with tattoos are deviant and are more willing to engage in risky behavior and commit crimes. This negative perception of tattooed individuals is what brings us to look deeper into the actions and minds of those who “get inked”.

Tattoos today are recognized as totally different than what they were pictured as in the past. “Tattooing is recognized by government agencies as both an art form and a profession and tattoo-related art work is the subject of museum, gallery and educational institution art shows across the United States.” [ (Levins,

Tattoo artist were mainly middle-aged men, who worked at the hole in the wall tattoo parlors. Body art also became known to be seen at circuses, and “freak shows” sometimes being next to people with disabilities or natural born wonders (DeMallo). Until the golden age of tattooing, which took place in the twentieth century, when parlors were actually next to things like barber shops, and retail stores. Margo DeMallo describe body art at the end of the sixties as “fragmented into different forms that corresponded to different social groups: servicemen, gang members, convicts, bikers, and working class men and woman” (DeMallo).

Tattoos are becoming a popular phenomenon that is seen everywhere. Today’s youth are getting permanent tattoos to be cool and trendy, but are not considering the long-term effects. Teenagers should be aware of all that body modification may include, it is not just a pretty picture. Adolescences must consider the dangers and conscientious result of attaining diseases, being underage, and having a permanent mark on their body.