Since I was a young girl, I was told that tattoos were “unladylike, trashy and unprofessional.” Coming from a conservative family, I guess I couldn’t expect anything less. My immediate family is un-inked, except for tiny hidden tattoos that both my mother and sister have on their hips, approximately the size of a quarter. I always thought they were beautiful, tiny pieces of art. How could two hearts on my mother’s hip ever be trashy? She’s my mom.
As I grew older and was a witness to more artwork etched into people's skin, I decided I wanted one (or a few more). I was cautious to what people said about it looking “trashy,” so I went with a small tattoo on my wrist: “Lucky.” I chose the word because it meant something to me. Every day, I could look down on it and remind myself of how lucky I was for everything I was blessed to have; things I didn’t deserve.
I never realized the backlash I would receive from my tattoo. At parties, I would be harassed by boys: “So, are you getting lucky tonight?” as they grabbed my wrist and drunkenly twisted it to show his friends. Other girls would laugh at me, calling my tattoo “so white girl.” People would accuse me of trying to be “edgy” or attempting to rebel against my conservative background. These people had no idea that I got it because of a mental disorder; that maybe I needed the tattoo to remind myself of the progress I’ve made. They didn’t care, they just judged. They judged me on a decision to get something permanently inked in my skin. I can never take my decision back, and these people made me feel bad for it.
There is such a stigma that comes with tattoos. Because, apparently, if people get artwork, quotes or a simple word marked on their skin, that they’re a bad person or that they’re connected with rebellion. It’s completely inaccurate. Once I was in a discussion with my father about tattoos. He has his opinion about tattoos, and it isn’t positive. He’s a businessman, so I can’t blame him for wanting a more cookie cutter, “professional” look. I asked him a question. “So Dad, if I took makeup and covered up my tattoos, would that change me as a person?” He looked at me and contemplated his answer. “No, you’d be the same person, just without tattoos.” Exactly.
Just because someone decides to get a tattoo, it does not change their personality. Tattoos are skin deep, and it’s time to get over the stigma that people are “edgy” or “dangerous” just because they made this decision. I’m proud of what I decided to get tattooed on my skin for everyone to see. It’s my skin. It’s my art. It’s my tattoo. And if you don’t like it, I don’t care.
