In the year 2016, people are slowly becoming more accepting of people with different views, beliefs, and other things of that nature. Unfortunately, one thing that people of the business world do not seem to accept is tattoos, which have become a norm and apart of pop culture in the United States.

According to Business Insider's article "Here's what hiring managers really think of your tattoos," there are 45 million people with at least a single tattoo, no laws to help protect them from discrimination, and 37 percent of HR managers see tattoos as the third thing on their list that would limit a person's career and they are seen as inappropriate.

After finding these statistics and others, I set out and found a select group of people and asked some basic questions about their tattoos with a final question asking if they felt they had to get the tattoo there due to employers or the possibility of a future job. Here are the interviews and a photo of one of their tattoos I received from each person in the group:

"My first of five (but soon to be six) tattoos is the one that holds the most meaning to me. I got it as an eighteenth birthday present to myself after having been diagnosed with and almost fully recovered from anorexia and orthorexia nervosa.

The tattoo itself reads "Do Not Be Discouraged" in plain, serifed text with a sideways "S" underneath, which is a calming symbol meant for the eye to follow during particularly stressful situations (the repetitive motion is meant to distract you from whatever else is going on). I chose these words specifically because they were what I would tell myself every day while recovering from my eating disorder, and to this day I'll still kiss the tattoo during difficult situations.

I also decided to put the tattoo, which is no bigger than a matchbox, facing myself on my right wrist so that I can read it to myself when I need it most. In my chosen field of personal training, I do not feel like having my tattoos would hinder me. But I've worked in hospital settings where I strictly needed to cover them up."

"I am a firefighter and I love serving my community. Being a fireman made me become a man and grow up. This tattoo shows how proud of the fire department I am. The tattoo has many meanings in it. I once saw an image of a firefighter from the FDNY from 9/11 and it showed so much meaning.

That is the same image that I wanted on my arm. I always said that if you would hang up a picture that you love and you look at it every day then it's a good tattoo. In the tattoo the shield number is 224 which is my personal badge number. The reasoning for mom and dad on the handle of the axe is because I lean on my parents. Also the reasoning for grandma and nanny is because they are always with me but they are out of my reach. I placed the tattoo under my sleeve because in my future I want to be in law enforcement or a firefighter for the city and they don't want tattoos showing."

"A tattoo of the two oars from the two rowing programs I have been apart of, a sport that changed my life. Taught me some of the most important skills in life, showed me my bests friends, and helped me come into my own. I got this tattoo on my bicep because I thought it was a cool spot, the added bonus was that it was in a spot that couldn't be seen by employers so I wouldn't have to worry about them possibly not hiring me because of it."

"The reason behind the tattoo. It is the spirit animal I want to become when I get older for the elephant stands for compassion, truth, peace and love. At this moment I do not quite think I am there for I am still young and learning it will take time. It also brings me close to my mom, when I was 17 my mom handed me a golden elephant necklace that I rarely take off and growing up there was always elephants all around my house she collects elephant things. I have the head of my elephant facing my back and that has to do with my mom, when she placed an elephant statue in the room she would face the butt towards the door and when I was young I thought this was odd but, she later explained that it was for luck.

Therefore, I resembled that in my tattoo. In the society we growing in today, I feel like tattoos are becoming less of a taboo and more of a norm. Now does that mean I am going to cover myself head to toe in tattoos; no but, it seems like employers are caring less and less if their employees have tattoos. I mean of course they would care if it is something derogatory and that may possible effect your chances of getting a job but, if the tattoo holds meaning that I highly doubt it would effect their chances of obtaining the job and if it truly effects the employer, now they just if the employee could cover it but, why cover art. I do not think it is a big deal for art on your body, should not resemble your skills on the job. I mean just walk down the street you would probably find more people with tattoos than without."

"This was the first tattoo I ever got. That fact alone makes this tattoo special. I heard that rib tattoos are painful and I knew I wanted more tattoos after this one. So, I wanted to get that over with first. I wanted this tattoo since I read the last 'Harry Potter' book. I know it wasn't exactly original but I had to have it. I know liking Snape isn't exactly a popular opinion but he's one of my favorite characters. The fact that he was in that gray area instead of completely black or white really interested me. The quote Always just always stuck out to me. It showed that even in this world where a lot of things are temporary, some things last. Sounds corny but it just struck a cord with me and it always comforted me. I knew I would always have a love for 'Harry Potter' and I would never regret this. I got this tattoo on my ribs solely because of the fact jobs look down upon visible tattoos."

I myself also have two tattoos, the one I am sharing is my more recent one which holds a special place in my heart. I am proud to admit I am a Marvel nerd. My parents are divorced and when I was younger I would have visitation with my fathers on certain weekends and while staying at my fathers there was never anything to do. I then stumbled upon the first "Captain America" movie on the television and I became hooked into the marvel universe. Whether it be the comics, movies, or anything between it gave me some way to escape the confines of the house without having to leave and resulting in who I am now. I myself also fell victim to hiding this art on upper right of my back right below my shoulder due to possible future jobs.

After hearing the stories behind the tattoos of the five people I interviewed, it became clear that there was always the one factor of pleasing the person who may be hiring you by hiding your art. Tattoos are not made out to be deviant behavior or to show irresponsibility but to help someone remember overcoming a personal event, remembering someone, showing the love you have for someone, represent a uniqueness about yourself, creating a tribute to an object or pop culture reference, or even more reasons that the other 44,999,994 people just in the United State have. The year is 2016 and people need to wake up and realize that just because you have a tattoo you are not less desirable. I am not saying there aren't tattoos that may seem a little indecent for certain places of work, but just because someone has a sleeve of tattoos or just a single tattoo somewhere visible, they should not be turned down the same opportunities others have.