There are two kinds of people in the world right now: those with tattoos or are planning to get tattoos, and those who will never get tattoos. These two types of people come with different views on tattoos as well. These views are derived from the people who either have tattoos or don't. Older generations believe that tattoos are disrespectful and are signals of a person being a "hooligan." Younger generations view tattoos as pieces of their identities that help them stand out, as well as works of art. These different views have created a gap in our society causing an unnecessary war over the ink staining our skin.
Tattoos are pieces of scarred and ink-colored skin that are made into patterns. They originated in native cultures as symbols of their tribes and the different statuses people obtained within their societies — different symbols to set them apart from everyone else. They quickly became part of the Western culture along with piercings and now have become a defining aspect of the millennial generation.
There are still issues that divide the newer generation from the older generation regarding tattoos, which is a growing problem in and of itself. The younger generations who are tattooed are having hard times finding jobs because their older employers find that their tattoos are disrespectful and symbols of ill-repute. According to The Huffington Post, employers think that tattoos can "make a person look dirty" and would "stop [them] from hiring them." They stigmatize people with tattoos as people who are bad and can't be trusted. These are harsh realities that younger generations are facing; they can't express themselves through piercings, tattoos, or coloring their hair in different shades because they are afraid they won't be able to land a job. This shouldn't be the case, because tattoos are becoming more and more normalized in the world, especially in the United States. The younger generations, especially Generation X and the millennials have more tattoos and piercings than the generations before them. These kids are using body modification as a sign of rebellion once they turn eighteen, and thus, contracting the "tattoo bug" earlier on.
Tattoos aren't just pieces of art or tags that are stuck on your body forever. They are ways of identifying yourself. They help you express how you are feeling and make important marks for things that mean a lot to you. People get tattoos for when they need to remember a lost one or remember a special phrase or time in their lives. My dad, best friend, and even myself, have gotten tattoos in memory of people lost. I have a tattoo that means a lot to me, as it reminds me that I need to live my life a certain way. People get tattoos to make them stand out from the crowd — even though some are classified as "white girl tattoos" and "basic."
Tattoos are important to the newer generations and will continue to be more important as time goes on. They are important because they allow people to express themselves in ways besides words. People shouldn't be afraid to express themselves because they believe that they won't have a secure job due to the way they look. Body modification is important to the changing youth, and thus, should be important to the world as well.
