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Tattoos: Good, Bad or Rebellious
By Kaitlyn Mallory
Asst. Opinion Editor
Have our parents been right all along? As hard as it is to see that sentence in print, there may be some truth that needs to be addressed.
Are we just a bunch of rebellious kids trying to make society angry for no reason other than we can?
I don’t think so. If your parents are anything like mine, they see tattoos and piercings as simple rebellion. There is no artistic value, no sign of individualization and not even simple aesthetic value.
My father thinks that all tattoos are irresponsible and disgusting. I think that anything short of the leader of the free world knocking on his front door and demanding that he get a tattoo could convince him to change his mind.
But what is so wrong with a tasteful tattoo or simple body piercing? How is the body art of today any different than the “far out” hair styles of the 70s?
Tattoos and body piercings are climbing out of the back alleys and parading up and down Main Street in modern America. It’s time to get on the float or pick a different town.
There is certainly a dark history related to tattoos. However, a person would be off base to assume that anyone with a tattoo is bad news.
A tattoo is no longer indicative of time spent in jail, a gang or Hells Angels.
Tattoos are an art form.
Nine times out of 10 tattoos are drawn up by the artist, the client or a combination of the two. They are created with the hope of being displayed proudly.
I am in no way shape or form trying to convince everyone to share my point of view, but it isn’t fair to deem people’s body art as “trash.”
I firmly believe that within the next 10 to 15 years there will be a civil suit brought to the federal court systems trying employers for firing an employee due to having a tattoo.
How is it any less discriminatory to tell a person what tattoo they are permitted to have in order to retain employment than it is to tell someone that they are unfit for employment based on race, religion or creed? It most definitely is not.
There is no way for an employer to know whether a tattoo was gotten for religious or some other equally meaningful reason. Just because the court case has yet to come about does not mean that the issue is any less relevant in today’s society.
To what extent do everyday individuals look at tattoos as demeaning, degrading or just all around tasteless?
Would you refuse to date or associate with someone simply after seeing their prominently displayed tattoo or piercing?
There are people who are still judging others based on appearance. Judging a girl with a tattoo as “trashy” is no better than putting discriminatory stereotypical racial or ethnic labels on strangers based solely on their appearance.
The truth of the matter seems to come down to defining tasteful.
There may be no “correct” answer. Everyone has the right to define words according to their own perspective.
In my own opinion, tattoos and piercings that can be covered up or hidden in professional situations are not a problem.
I can understand how a potential employer hiring a new customer service representative would want to hire an individual who would provide the customers with an overall clean, professional impression of the company that they are working for.
I am one of the strongest advocates for body art. I personally think it looks amazing, and I can’t wait until it becomes more acceptable in mainstream society.
But changes can be made and they start right here, with you and I.
Don’t judge someone poorly just because they have tattoos or piercings.
Remember that person probably has a lot to offer if you just give them a chance.
Finally, if you do get the urge to become a member of the body art society, be sure to try and implement a certain degree of common sense when making the decision.
It will benefit you, and in the long run, it will help move society away from the “all tattoos are impulsive and stupid” mentality by showing everyone that tattooed individuals are everyday people with a taste for new types of art. Body art.
The Slate