Body Modifications in the Work Place
Have you ever seen a banker or doctor with tattoos or piercings? Chances are you probably haven’t because people think that these body modifications are unprofessional and not meant to be in the work place. Even though it might not look like what you usually think of when you think of a professional, nevertheless, people should be able to have them because it’s a form of freedom of expression. It can also help people feel better about themselves and feel unique in the sense that most people won’t have the same exact tattoos.
When you think of a doctor you think of a clean cut normal looking person just like the next few doctors. You probably don’t think about how perhaps underneath the lab coat and long
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sleeves they might be covering an intricate tattoo that has a lot of meaning to them. Because of society’s views on body modifications however work professionals are usually forced to cover up such things because the company is afraid of the modifications offending people and don’t want to lose customers. Honestly though most people now a days don’t really care about tattoos, piercings, or other modifications. In fact a lot of people are intrigued by them and think they help people individualize themselves. As our society grows more and more so should our employee views on body modifications, especially when they have nothing to do with the prospective employees qualifications. If employers based hiring solely on if people had modifications or not they could potentially lose out on some amazing employees. Body modifications are a form of self-expression. I personally have body mods because they make me feel like I better express myself through them and they make me feel better about myself. If even just one person feels better about themselves afterwards and always feel good about their decision then it’s worth it in the end. People should be able to freely express themselves to a certain extent and not feel like they have to hide it because our society has deemed it a taboo. My body modifications make me feel beautiful and help me feel unique. To me they help me stand out in a crowd and shows people that I’m not ok with just fitting in and going with the flow. If businesses allowed body mods it would help people feel more unique just like I do. It would make people feel better about themselves and help them see that they are unique beautiful individuals that are separate from those around them. They could have pride in knowing that they most likely have that tattoo and no one else does, it’d be personal art on their bodies. Employees may think that it isn’t important for employees to feel this way but it is and it will bring better attitudes toward the work place. To me body modifications have always been fascinating.
Seeing the colorful pictures on a person’s skin dance around as they moved and how when they washed their hands and arms they still stayed on always entertained me. To me body modifications were never a big deal, my parents always had friends over that had them so I’m used to them. My mom always told me from the moment I could understand that I could dress how I want and express myself however I want as long as I was modest, and I always took that to heart. So when picking out my tattoos didn’t take long for me because I had known for a long time what I wanted because I knew exactly how I wanted to express myself. After getting them I felt beautiful and amazing, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t done it sooner. I personally don’t understand why employers wouldn’t want their workers to feel like I do. We shouldn’t be shaming people who go against these societal norms, we should be applauding them for being able to break free of the “normal” dress code and for creating their own. We as a society should stop shaming people for being able to break free of the mold they’re “supposed” to be. If employers could learn to accept these brave people then others would be more accepting. All we have to do is stop putting into people’s heads that the body mods are tattoos. Just simply hiring those with them could make some extreme progress and make head way for future mold
breakers.
Tattoos have been utilized in various ways for thousands of years, ranging from punishment, to status symbols and indications of religious beliefs. They have served as the ultimate illustration of cultural diffusion in America, and despite generally carrying a negative social stigma, perception of tattoos has continued to evolve into a more acceptable practice.
Body modifications, with the focus of tattoos, have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years, yet certain dishonors still remain our modern day. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to endless diverse groups of people. But are the popular assumptions of tattoos out of sync with the true meaning behind them? Further explanation and exploration of the history will reveal the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body, in addition to providing answers as to why tattoos stimulate uneasiness and curiosity and create a challenge to discursive practices.
...norms is tattoos. Today, it is normal that most young adults have tattoos or body piercings. In Kang and Jones article, “Why Do People Get Tattoos?”, 15% of young adults in 2003 had tattoos (42). It is a form of self-expression and art, and a way for young people to find their independence (42). Men and women have different norms at to what tattoos they get. Men tend to get more masculine tattoos, while women tend to get more feminine ones (44). Even though it is seen as normal to get a tattoo today, most employers still have a problem with them. Most employers want their employees who are tattooed to cover them up so they are not visible on the job (46). Others view people with tattoos to be stupid and trouble makers (46). Tattoos as a social norm, proves that in some cases they are acceptable and in other cases, they still cause problems like stereotyping.
The perception of tattoos and those wearing them has varied in societies since tattoos first started being used. Some of the reasons people had/have tattoos include: therapy, protection, homage, memory, religion, or a dumb mistake. In historic cases, tattoos were used as a way to communicate with others, and were a common occurrence in most societies throughout history. Schildkrout states “There is no culture in which people do not, or did not paint, pierce, tattoo, reshape, or simply adorn their bodies (Schildkrout).”Since modern technology has made tattoos relatively affordable, faster and slightly less painful to receive, tattooing has shifted from select groups to “everyone else”. There are no specific groups for tattoos anymore, they are seen everywhere on all types of people and are less discriminated agains...
Do you ever wonder why you never see tattoos and piercings in the medical or federal working fields? It’s because some people believe that a person with tattoos and/or piercings is linked to people with bad reputations, such as bikers, sailors, criminals, and gang members, but that is false. Piercings and tattoos have been popular for quite a long time now, but still get looked down upon and can even affect your daily life.
...ms are being excepted and are not as taboo. Now, many people choose scarifications over tattoos. Its origins were in the practice of the Australian Aborigines dating back to 60,000 B.C.. People have now found creative ways of expressing themselves, such as the “Lizard Man” and the “Stalking Cat.” Both men modified their bodies using silicon implants, tattoos, sharpening their teeth, plastic surgery, and various piercings, to resemble what they believed was their inner animal. Yes, most of society do view them as freaks, but they no longer receive the hate one person would receive for a basic navel piercing. Everywhere, there is a person with a tattoo or piercing, wether it be for religious, cultural, or aesthetical reasons. More forms of body modification are still being invented or thought of everyday, but it is the persons choice to what extent they will take it.
In conclusion, tattoos have been accepted throughout all different societies. In the past, tattoos were seen as deviant and frowned upon because it goes against the social norm. People did not understand the significance and the creativity behind tattooing. Tattoos are a form of creativity. They are a way to express yourself, your religion, or your inner feelings. Each type has a significant meaning or reason. There are different categories and different types. There are multiple ways to get one. If you do not want permanent ones, henna is a good alternative. Even though tattooing has been around for decades, there are still risks. Tattoos can still get infected or have allergic reactions. New technology has developed to allow an unwanted tattoo to be removed. Tattoos have come a long way in society and will continue to develop throughout today’s society.
One's body is what makes one who one is. Every inch of someone is what sets a person apart from everyone else. Even though everyone has an opinion about what his or her perfect body would be, changing one's personal features would take away from individuality. I personally would never have plastic surgery because when I look at myself, I do not see a tall, skinny young man with a funny looking nose and big "bug" eyes, but I see a beautifully sculpted masterpiece that God has made just for me. It is a body that gives me character, individuality, and confidence.
...llious and dangerous. One should be delighted to have the freedom to dress and decorate themselves as they wish. Having a tattoo in today’s world still may not be viewed as professional, but tattoos are definitely no longer, nor should they ever be, viewed as unprofessional.
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.
A controversial topic today is whether or not body piercings and tattoos should be accepted by professionals working in health care. Currently, tattoos and piercings are allowed in health care as long as they are not visible. According to one of the studies, “Body piercing is defined as a piercing of the body anywhere other than the earlobes” (Westerfield). Therefore, the only visible piercings allowed are small studs in the lobes of the ears for females. The reason body piercings and tattoos are not suggested in health care is that they keep someone from looking professional as well as making them look intimidating. Not everyone sees them that way. The opposing side is that they do not affect
A persons’ image is vital when meeting someone for the first time. Our peers, employers, family, superiors, even strangers that you walk past can automatically judge someone, and imagine how they present themselves to the world. Tattoos have been predominantly linked with a rebellious attitude and pictured on out of control stereotypes such as rock starts, bikers, sailors, and disobedient teenagers who want nothing more than to hack off their parents. With a new coming of age generation and a step into a more lenient and liberal society these types of patrons still participate in body art but so do doctors, lawyers, or just the run of the mill house mom. Tattoos signify religious beliefs, cultural influence, or each individual’s sole style. Body art is no longer socially offensive, employers are more apt to hiring tatted hopeful applicants, parents are warming up to the idea of their children inking their body and no longer a stranger on the street with a tattoo is necessarily prejudged as a criminal or safety hazard. Tattoos have become more evolved over the years because they have become more of a socially accepted element of the general public.
Tattoos are a controversial subject in the world we live in. The kind of people that get tattoos is now varied to almost all humans regardless of race, religion, or age. What many people fail to understand or realize is how much of an effect a tattoo can have on the rest of your life. The original tattoo stereotypes have faded from what they were many years ago and yet tattoos still have a reputation as for what kind of people get tattoos. There are many reasons as to why people would get a tattoo but there are many reason why you should think before you ink. Our society and the social media today has a huge impact on the tattoo industry. Movie stars and pop singers with many tattoos are posing as role models for our generation and
Tattooing has increased widespread from all ages, careers, and social classes (Westerfield, Stafford, Speroni, & Daniel, 2012). Tattoos’ usual meaning is “to stain the skin with colorings” (Goldstein, 2007). With the growing the populations, who have tattoos and/or body piercings in the work environment, there is requiring decision about what policies to establish forward associates a professional atmosphere. Thus, there assesses patients’ perceptions of health care workers with tattoos and/or body piercing (Westerfield, Stafford, Speroni, & Daniel, 2012).
One reason why tattoos should be allowed at a workplace is because people get tattoos for significant reasons. Paulette Tobin's article states that ''there are many reasons why more people are making their bodies a permanent canvas, for example the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, and even acknowledging a beloved pet.'' Some people get birthdates, anniversary dates and many other important dates tattooed on them to keep in memory. Others get portraits of things or people they love.