Tattoos are one of the quickest growing "trends" that is making it's way through today's people. One-third of Americans have at least one tattoo and of that third, almost 70% of them have two or more. To go along with that, 71% of parents are comfortable with their kids having visible tattoos. So with this being the case, why are they still seen as a such a negative quality?

Although most of younger parents (roughly 71%) are comfortable with those that have tattoos taking care of their children. The older population, don't feel the same way, and a small amount of them are actually comfortable with tattooed persons taking care of them or their kids (roughly 31%). Nearly half of employers have specific guidelines against tattoos, or the very least, visible tattoos. It is a commonality that those with tattoos are seen as less respectable, less healthy, and more rebellious. It is time that we end the stigma about those with tattoos, because they aren't going to go away anytime soon.

As someone who has tattoos and a hopeful future as a doctor in psychology, I have already been subject to the judgment of others, because they never thought that someone that has tattoos on his arms could ever do something "important." I'm an EMT in the Air Force, and I can't count how many times I've had somewhat older patients say to others working in the hospital "Since when do the cleaning guys wear scrubs?" They then begin to question how I got my job, and how was it that I'm able to work with all of this ink on my arms.

Well, judgmental patients, the Air Force just changed their tattoo policy to allow airmen to have tattoos anywhere on their body (except for the head, neck, face, and hands). We are now allowed to have full "sleeves" of our arms and legs. This is a huge jump, seeing how we were the last branch to allow this. The Air Force used to have the strictest tattoo policy among all of the military branches, but now like the others, we are more accepting the changing times.

It is time that everyone else follows suit with the acceptance of tattoos. There is no reason as to why tattoos have to be frowned upon. More and more younger adults are getting tattoos, and more and more are getting multiple tattoos. If workplaces continue to discriminate against those that have tattoos, pretty soon they won't have anyone left to hire to work for them. Tattoos should not be a deciding factor in whether or not you hire someone. You should look at their qualifications, their track record, and them as a person. Just like we've all learned when we were little kids, never judge a book by its cover.