Analysis Of The Tattoo Subculture

Tattoos have slowly then all at once became a subculture of its own. Although not everyone has them, everyone does know about them. -- “Tattoos have long been a hobby for some, it seems an interest in them may be broadening, Today 21% of U.S. adults report having a tattoo which is up from previous years” (Harris One In Five). With this statistic in mind we ask ourselves, what draws people to getting a tattoo? Is it to show rebellion, strength, or maybe even love? It could be those things but it could also be much more. I wanted to research tattoos because they are a piece of art that not everyone agrees with. After this paper is done I want people that have disagreed with tattoos to learn more and possibly change their opinion. Today more and

more people are getting tattoos and soon it could be such a normal thing that it does not affect jobs. From my experience of also being in this subculture I would say everyone has their own reason. I myself got a tattoo that has no meaning but it is in a place that for me means strength. While doing this paper I want to learn why there is stereotypes surrounding people with tattoos? I have no negativity towards people with or without tattoos. Although it is rumored people without tattoos are more judgmental it cannot be proven but can be estimated based on experience. People have been getting tattoos for decades, in fact the way tattoos are done have even evolved over the years. This subculture follows a long history, with the first recorded tattoo dating back to approximately six-thousand B.C. and people are still getting them today.
“In 1991 there was a discovery of The Iceman in the Swiss Alps, whose corpses dated back about five-thousand years, revealed tattoos that were used for different purposes, the majority of the tattoos found on the corpses lined up exactly with acupuncture points. When this was discovered it was made clear that tattoos were more than likely used for medicine.” (Fox news, The Origin). Tattoos were also used for medical practices, faith, distinction, and as a symbol of honor. As time progressed we saw how the reasoning for tattoos began to evolve. In the modern day we see people with tattoos either for fun or to portray something specific. The “fun” tattoos are generally butterflies and or stars across the lower back that were possibly an accident from a past spring break. While tattoos such as a sparrow or a rose can be interpreted as a memorial for a person or animal passing away. “No matter what far corner of the globe you're from, tattoos are a way to wear your life story on your skin. (Fox News).” Reasons for tattoos is not the only thing that has changed over the past thousands of years. The process of getting a tattoo done has also changed. The first tattoo is lead to be believed as an accident, the idea is that somebody got a wound and wiped dirt on it and it stayed permanently in the skin. One of the other ways of getting a tattoo is called a prison tattoo or stick n poke. This stick n poke is a single needle wrapped with thread and dipped in ink, then it is poked into the skin multiple times to make the symbol wanted.
Can you look at a person such as a police officer or a fire fighter and tell if they have a tattoo? The answer is no, a numerous amount of people that save lives daily have tattoos. The funny thing about it is the stereotypes about people with tattoos. It is said that people with tattoos are mean and lazy. A navy seal that protects the United States but has a tattoo is considered lazy according to this stereotype. It is hard to believe but some people have refused help from police officers because of them having a tattoo on their arm. This kind of stuff applies to the man I interview named Ty Young. He is an eighteen year old college student here at Georgia Southern University. As I was interviewing him I asked him if people had refused service from him at his job. He replied with, “Yes, Some people see tattoos and they are so close minded and hate them that they judge and assume everyone with tattoos.” It is a shame that some people are so closed minded that they refuse help from somebody that is trying to help them. These stereotypes are some of the reasons employers refuse to give people with tattoos jobs. Employers are afraid of customers leaving due to employees with tattoos. Not all places are like this, stores such as Hot Topic and Spencer’s allow and hire many people with full sleeves which are tattoos down the entire arm or arms. Ty has seven tattoos and is planning on getting more, he is not letting these close minded people affect him. I also managed to ask him about the statement people with tattoos are always told. How is that going to look when you are older? It’s going to look bad? When Ty was asked this he looked at me and said, “Then I will have a tattoo when I’m older and will for the most part still look the same as it does now. The design isn’t going to change it will still be a cross or roman numerals.”
This subculture is different from the others in ways such as dressing a certain way.

Many different people have tattoos and there is no one way that they dress. Some people dress in all black while some are in polo shirts. Although there is no specific clothing that determines if a person is a part of this subculture there are some things only people with tattoos will understand. A person with a tattoo will understand that gunk is what you put on your freshly done tattoo. A person with no ink would not know what that refers to and would ask. Another form of lingo that is used is body suit. A body suit is a tattoo that covers all of the body except the hands and feet. A person without any tattoos would probably think of a wet suit that people use to surf. People with tattoos know what questions to ask and what to look for when going to get or care for a

tattoo.
While doing this research I gained some valuable information about tattoos and everything that revolves around them.

In the modern day people are judgmental of things they don’t like or understand. When you ask why people don’t like tattoos the answers you get are I just don’t like them or they are ugly. There is no good reason, it is just an opinion. This opinion can be formed by living a traditional lifestyle or formed on their own. Most people in the modern time like tattoos and or do not judge people with tattoos. The stereotypes of tattoos and the people with them are usually formed from watching TV or from crimes. Sometimes when somebody gets arrested they will have tattoos .People that dislike tattoos will connect that they have committed a crime and they have tattoos which means people with tattoos are more dangerous. That is just how some people use the connection. Some people are bias towards tattoos while others are not. From my experience and research I learned that I am not bias towards people with tattoos, I think that tattoos show meaning. I myself like other people with tattoos live our daily life, our tattoos do not affect us negatively. We can still get the same education and become surgeons, firefighters or whatever we want to

do.