Tattoos have been around since the beginning of organized society, and for many people, they have a strong cultural and personal meaning. However, modern society looks down on people with tattoos for a number of reasons. Opinions about tattoos are changing slowly, and about a third of Millennials have at least one tattoo. It’s clear that tattoos aren’t as taboo as they used to be. So why are they still stigmatized? Let’s take a look at some of the common myths about tattoos.
First, it’s a widely held belief that people who have tattoos are dirty. This is because tattooing started with native people and passed to sailors—two groups that were considered “dirty” or “lesser” by society—then the general population. This stigma could also have come from the tattooing of criminals and slaves in order to make sure that they did not run away. Also, the rise of “prison tats” in the 1960s and 1970s may have contributed to this association. However, in the modern world (post 1970-present), tattooing is a mainstream—and usually safe—practice. Most tattoo artists use a sterile needle and tattoo gun, disinfect the tattooing booth and the patient’s skin, and keep the surrounding area very clean. This is to prevent infection and keep the tattoo looking its best. Just as important, if not more important, is the rigorous care that a person with a new tattoo must give their tattoo. This means cleaning it with mild soap and water, keeping it moisturized with fragrance-free lotion, monitoring it for infection, and protecting it from extreme elements. Taking care of a new tattoo require almost religious cleanliness.
Here's my newest tattoo, which I designed myself.
Another myth about tattoos is that people with tattoos will never get a “real job”. I’d like to point out the thousands of professionals in the workplace who have tattoos, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, librarians, scientists, and more. Many workplaces are changing their policies on tattoos to reflect the growing number of people who have tattoos, and the policies are becoming more lenient.
Finally, the last myth about tattoos that I'm going to cover today is the myth that tattoos correlate negatively to a person's behavior and personality. This is outdated at best and outright insulting at worst. Tattoos have absolutely no impact on a person's values, behavior, or personality. People from all walks of life have tattoos, and the most important indicator of a person's values isn't the designs that they wear on their skin, but their actions and words.
So the next time you see someone with a tattoo, remember: they are so much more than their tattoo. They are interesting, well-rounded people with lives, careers, hopes, dreams, ambitions, and aspirations. Who knows? They might even be your next new best friend.
