Tattoos are becoming very popular amongst the people of my generation, but now they seem to be creating more buzz than ever when it comes to today’s job market. Jon Kelly and Rachel Hennessey wrote articles covering this topic presenting the views of employers and their policies against tattoos. In
As younger generations enter the workforce, tattoos, piercings and unconventional hair colors are causing a paradigm shift regarding what comprises a professional look. Employers continue to look down upon people with tattoos, colored hair or body piercings, and this represents discriminatory hiring practices. There is a social disconnect regarding how certain body modifications are alright, but not others. People should not be kept from employment because of their personal body modifications. A famous person once said, “don’t judge a book by its cover”.
Garrett Kennedy is a representative for the employers and senior executives in all aspects of employment-related litigation; a complaint that helps deal with situations that involves an employee being treated differently at his or her job. In this case, Kennedy is representing the people who are being discriminated at the workplace because of their body modifications. Kennedy acknowledges that, “...studies reflect negative biases against individuals with tattoos which include assumptions that they are less intelligent and attractive, and more rebellious. Not surprisingly, 60% of human resources professionals reported that visible tattoos would have a negative
Tattoos & Piercings in the Workplace PHI221 Shelley Hipps College America Abstract This paper focuses on the subject of whether or not tattoos and piercings should be allowed in the workplace. There are a lot of resources arguing that they should not be allowed, but this research maintains the point that they should be more accepted in the workplace these days. This paper concludes by discussing how tattoos and piercings are much more of an artistic expression rather than a form of rebellion as it was once considered.
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.
The art of tattoos has been prevalent in several ancient cultures and represented various meanings. Until around the mid-20th century, tattoos were seen in a very negative light; mainly associated with circus freak shows, bikers or outlaws. In more current times, tattoos are becoming more accepted overall. With this change there is a debate of body art in the workplace. If a person chooses to have visible tattoos, it should no longer be seen in such a negative view among assorted careers today. Tattoos are continuously becoming more popular with each generation and often have some personal meaning. Some companies that have recently started to accept appropriate body art in the workplace are seeing positive benefits related to their new policy changes. This debate has also led people to file discrimination lawsuits against their employer. There are occasions, however, that the subject matter or the placement of a tattoo on the body may not be professional for certain types of jobs. The discussion of visible tattoos needs to be evaluated by each company, and often each individual situation, to determine if body art can be accepted at that business.
Body Modification In The Workplace Imagine a young boy in his late teens walking down a busy street with numerous piercing on his face and his hands, and neck covered in countless tattoos. The very first thoughts that pop up tend to be "Uneducated" or "scary", society is quick to judge. There is always a lot of controversy when it comes to body modifications. Most people instantly have an opinion of them; they either love them or hate them. What is not realized is the fact that there is a ton of time and effort put into the design and or locations of the tattoo/body piercing. People get body modifications as a way of self-expression and being set free from their boring lives. Unfortunately, in the business world, most executives do not believe there is such a thing as an “acceptable” body modification and see them as a sign of rebellion. Employers may argue that tattoos/piercings in the workplace are inappropriate, unprofessional, and even distracting. Although tattoos and body piercings are not respected by certain demographics and may portray negative images that may be
Deviance: Tattoos, Piercings, and Body Modifications Towan Cook Georgia Gwinnett College Deviant acts cannot be discussed without taking into account culture, perspective, and religion. Every culture is known for their types of expressions though tattooing, piercings, and body modification. Asian gangs such as the Yakuza are known for their full body tattoos, while African tribes can be associated with wearing rings that stretch their necks. Often, these types of tattooing and body modifications are seen as a sign of beauty or a sign of respect. In the United States, tattooing, piercings, and body modifications are becoming more acceptable, in moderation.
While tattoos have become more and more acceptable over the years, the question still lies on whether tattoos or any other kind of body modifications in the workplace should be allowed. It's beyond easy to make cases showing the negative impacts of discrimination against tattoos and piercings in the workplace. Plastic surgery, drawing on your eyebrows, getting fake nails, and coloring your hair are also examples of body modifications. Though not everyone agrees with or thinks they’re beautiful, employees are not told to cover up these modifications. Tattoos and piercings are purely another form of beautification and what makes each person their own unique individual. Beauty is personal.
Zac Wilson 27 January 2011 English 102 Multiple Positions rough draft Prohibition of Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace A large number of businesses do not allow tattoos that are visible. Many also prohibit piercings, other than single earrings on women. Some industries even take their policies to the extreme of not allowing any tattoos that take up more than 25% of a body part, and if a pre-existing tattoo is too large or obscene, it must be removed (Powers). This even applies if a uniform can easily cover the tattooed area.
Tattoos in the work place Today in America there is less problems having tattoos in the work place. As tattoos proliferate, some employers’ are becoming more accepting of body ink peeking through work place attire but the level of acceptance varies depending the industry and the corporate cultural. The work force is more interested in your educational skills and skills for the job. Tattoo policies can vary from one office to the next the argument being that tattoos and certain hair do’s or certain garments can be a very big distraction to many coworkers and customers. Depending on how visible and how offensive the tattoo is. When it comes down to tattoos in the workplace it just really come
A woman who is a physical therapist has dreadlocks and noticeable tattoos was accepted by her patient despite her contrasting outward appearance. A runway model with a neck tattoo was accepted by the company and the brands she models for. A woman with a prominent clavicle tattoo is seen as no different by the young girls her agency tends to. Although there are cases of the polar opposite where others are discriminated based on the art they have tattooed on their arms or the body modifications they choose. Trebay used the case of Kimberly Cloutier as an example, where Ms. Cloutier wanted to wear her piercings but was denied due to appearance rules at her
Although numerous tattoos and piercings are offensive, many are not. In the essay “Why Looks Are the Last Bastion of Discrimination” Rhodes quotes that “Individuals with tattoos and body piercings are often viewed as ‘rougher’ or ‘less educated’.” (Rhodes, Deborah par- 3)
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.
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.