"Don't take this personally, but I hate tattoos."
Ugh, here we go again. This phrase is usually followed by a string of questions that I most definitely am tired of answering. Yes, my parents know and support my decisions to be tattooed. Yes, I know I will probably see them in my wedding dress. Oh, so you don't like them? Well, that's a shame. I got my tattoos for myself and no one else. I didn't have you in mind when I chose my design, or when I waited patiently to get an appointment, or even after that, when I had to go through the pain of the tattooing process. You, and all of the other judgmental people who dislike tattoos, have discouraged countless individuals from going through the process, and honestly, it's ignorant and extremely rude. So, I am writing you this letter to help you better understand why you need to stop judging the tattooed population.
Honestly, what bothers me the most is the whole "What a shame, you were such a pretty girl and you ruined your body. Why would you do that?" thing. Actually, my body is not ruined. I am still the beautiful person I was before I had my tattoos. Actually, let's be honest, I look better with them. Tattoos are a unique form of artwork that I have the privilege of carrying around with me for the rest of my life. So do not dare try and tell me that I don't look beautiful with them. You, and others like you who hate my works of art, have called me names in parking lots and at beaches, have given me disgusted looks, and have made the nastiest snarky comments under your breath.
So, my friend, it is you who is the ugly one in this situation. It is ugly of you that you do not tolerate others and their personal choices. When you tell me I am going to hell for being a tattooed woman, and that I will never find a husband, you do not hurt me in any way. You are only hurting yourself and furthering a stereotype that is harmful in more ways than you could imagine. I mean, did you ever think about all the positive things that tattoos can do? For example, the women who have the opportunity to have cosmetic tattoos done after double mastectomies? No, never thought about that? Yeah, I thought so.
I guess what I want you to take away from all of this is the following: Just because you wouldn't want one or don't understand them, doesn't mean that you have to judge me for them. So, before you judge me for my tattoos or even think about making a hurtful comment to me about my lifestyle choice to become tattooed, please keep in mind that I don't support your lifestyle choice to be unreasonably judgmental about beautiful people covering themselves in beautiful artwork. I am not any lesser a person for having tattoos. I am not a delinquent or uneducated, I am an honors college student at a prominent university who has been educated enough to understand that there are far more important things in this world for you to worry about than my decision to be tattooed.
I mean, hey, if I can not judge you for your choice to not be tattooed, I think you can manage not to judge me for my lifestyle choice to become tattooed.
