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Tattoos and workplace deviance
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Tattoos in the Workplace: Taboo or Too Cool In today’s modern society there is an astounding increase in the amount of people who have acquired tattoos and piercings, especially young adults, but does this sudden leap in body art pose a problem in a corporate world where these forms of self-expression are forbidden? In her article “Tattoos and Piercings: Attitudes, Behaviors, and Interpretations of College Students, ”Jenn Horne says that “ Today, tattoos and piercings have become more mainstream,” her widely drawn statistics also state that at least one in every four college graduates will have a tattoo, and almost seventy percent of these young people, mostly women, will have at least one piercing.(Jenn) This is a very significant percentage of the incoming workforce, and with this rise in self-decoration, the business world should be more accepting of people who have tattoos or other forms of body art, and not …show more content…
“Behavioral surveys have revealed mixed results,” conveys the fact that these surveys do not always have similar results which seem to relay a strong chance for error with these studies. (Carroll) This article’s main research point was a survey taken at an Adolescent Clinic, which specializes in helping teenagers and young adults who already have the problems mentioned above. This fact leads several people to wonder whether people with tattoos all happen to be ‘damaged’, or if the people already struggling with these problems just happen to have tattoos and piercings. After all, since approximately thirty-three percent of people have bodily adornments, one-third of the entire human population cannot have mental issues. In fact, in her article “Getting Inked: Tattoos and College Students”, Laura Manuel says that tattooing and piercing were often practiced by ancient Egyptian pharaohs.(Manuel) This evidence declares that tattoos shouldn’t be associated with disability, but
In Kosut’s article “The Artification of Tattoo: Transformations within a Cultural Field”, the author takes a look at how tattoos are a form of art and should be seen this way. It also indicates how tattoo artists have to have a technical skill in order to do this job and should be seen as actual artists and not overlooked. In addition to having steady hands like a surgeon, tattoo artists create original work for their clients. If tattoo artists and their work were seen as a legitimate career, it would be even more likely that tattoos would be accepted in society.
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...
The oldest recorded tattoos were left on Otzi the Iceman, who was believed to have died around 3300 B.C. He was said to have over 50 markings of crosses and lines in various places on his body. The reasoning behind his tattoos were therapeutic, because they were in places that he had great stress, which is very different from the reasons why people get tattoos today. In Leviticus 19:28, in the Bible, Moses tells the people that the lord forbids any cutting of the skin or printing of any marks. But the Lord wasn’t the only one that forbid tattooing, Japanese and Roman emperors did as well. In the 1950’s tattooing became more tolerated, but only physicians were allowed to tattoo because of tattooing regulations passed in numerous states. By 1998, 36 states had changed their body art legislation, and as of September 2003, 34 states have regulated tattoos and piercings, 39 regulated only tattoos, and 35 regulated only piercings.
Tattoos and body modifications have been around for many generations. They first began in 3370 BC and were used by Europeans and Egyptians. Both tattoos and body modifications are defined as a cultural representation of self-expression and sometimes even religion. In the article “Tattoos and Piercing: Issues of Body Modification and the Workplace,” Dr. Elzweig states, “Although tattooing is not a new phenomenon, the number of people who have tattoos has increased significantly and continues to rise. Life magazine estimated in 1936 that only 10% of me American population was tattooed in whole or in part (One out of ten Americans is tattooed, 1936)” (Elweig, Peeples).
I suppose it was inevitable that I would go on to get tattoos, though I never developed an affinity towards piercings of any type. However, long before I elected to go under the needle, I questioned the motivations underlying many of my peers to do the same. I graduated from an alternative high school, attended by a group of predictably societally non-compliant individuals. I had the opportunity to observe gang-related symbolism, simple physical expressions of rebellion, and even a few truly remarkable pieces of art that had simply been painted upon a canvas of skin, rather than a more traditional medium. For some it was all about freedom of expression, while others were influenced by a desire to display their incompatibility with a society they felt had spurned them. Others yet still were the recipients of markings ostensibly against their will, as mandated by familial or p...
Tattoos have been used as a form of decoration on the body of the Egyptian mummies. In fact, tattoos were viewed as a “beautifying operation” to the Typee natives and in Wales they were once a royal fad. There have been many eras to see the tattoo as a prestigious decoration. The Japanese also practiced a form of tattooing that covered their warriors in intimidating designs. But after years of beauty and prestige, what changed the views of people? What made tattoos rebellious and unprofessional?
Tattoos’ elite status symbol plummeted in 1891 when Samuel O’Reilly patented his tattoo machine in New York. Tattoos, which were previously available only to the upper class, became popular with the general public. By the early 1900s, tattoos became associated with the lower class,...
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.
In American culture, tattoos have become a popular part of expressing one’s style and their differences. However, do those individuals consider the changed perceptions that people may have on them based on their tattoos? In America, people who have tattoos tend to be affiliated with gangs, are criminals, open minded, don’t have a professional job, and are modern. Tattoos can have lots of different meanings to their owners, some can be deep and for others it can be simple. Some tattoo owners are prideful of their tattoos, whereas some have a feeling of regret of getting a tattoo. I hold the following assumptions towards people who have tattoos in our culture.
Symbolism and meaning is by far one of the most important aspects of the tattoo industry. “The abstract emotions and human awareness of emotions show what really is going on in ones life (Johnson)”. For that reason tattooing is a form of self-expression, and can stand for literal interpretations. For the most part these interpretations are the conveying of spiritual meaning, or marking milestones such as life or death” (Johnson). For those who think tattooing is just for looks or put a bad judgment on it, should also realize that ones personal interest reflects upon their lives. “Many individuals get their first tattoos during adolescence or young adulthood.”(Bravermark) Due to the mainstream culture, these traditions traditionally associate with stereotypes. Stereotypes defiantly have a huge impact on life. Which leads to the next point? Whether flaunted or hidden, sought as art or brought out on a whim, the tattoo has left a huge impact on generation after generation.
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
Are tattoos a kiss of death at a workplace? According to Student Research Center, nearly 4 out of every 10 Americans in their 30s have been inked. ''In April 2000 15% of Americans were tattooed (which is roughly around 40 million people) (The National Geographic).'There are different types of tattoos, from color to black and white, even glow in the dark. Number of tattoo paralos in the U.S. is 21,000'' (Tattoo Statistics 1) and more is being added every single day. People spend about $1.6 billion on tattoos once a year. ''In the U.S. more women than men are tattooed, 36% of the ages is between 18-25 and 40% of those ages are 26-40 that have at least one tattoo.''(Random facts 1) People have been getting tattoos for a while now. It has been said that ''tattoos date back as far as the Neolithic era or around the fourth to fifth millennium BC.''(skinsight.com 1) Tattoos should be acceptable at a place of business because people get tattoos for significant purposes, tattoos can tell stories and build confidence, body art is a way for someone to express themselves, make up, and tattoos are reminders of life time experiences.
Many of us crave tattoos because we desire to define ourselves as unique individuals. There are different reasons as to why tattoo artwork accomplishes this. For many, low self esteem is the driving emotion that lands a person in the tattoo parlor. Shelley Twyman confirms this idea, stating that “many people feel better about their self image after engaging in a type of alteration of the body.” In actuality, Shelley’s research measured the self esteem of tattooed individuals as on par with those who didn’t have one, after the alteration. Additionally, body art is often used to express the belief or views of the individual. For example, Margo DeMello argues in “Body Art, Deviance, and American College Students”, quoted by Myrna Armstrong et al, that some tattooed individuals see themselves “as if they are some kind of substitute for a personal philosophy” (152). Myrna Ar...