Not once have I ever heard, “That tattoo looks amazing. I bet the people at work love it," which is unfortunate because most tattoos (there are obviously outliers -- we’ve all seen those botched tattoo clickbait articles on Facebook) are works of art and/or carry meaning to the person whose body they're on.
I recently told my mom, “Mom, I’ve been itching for another tattoo” (I already have three), and her response was, “Annie, slow down with the tats." This made me slightly irritated. Sorry, Mom -- I love all my tattoos, and I love getting them. Now, her main reasoning for telling me to chill is that I don't have the money for another one (she’s right), but her other reason was that I had to keep my skin fresh and ink-free if I wanted to increase my chances of getting a big-kid job in the future, which got me more than slightly irritated.
But, before I launch into my rant, I must concede that the history and stigma attributed to tattoos is absolutely what causes hesitations in the workforce. Prison inmates and troublemakers used to be the ones who got tattoos, not respectable people. Gang members and pirates got tats, not driven and successful people. And history is not wrong. It’s easy to understand why this stereotype of degeneration goes hand in hand with tattoos. But although we cannot change history, we can change the mindset and the stereotype.
I know I got my tattoos to express the things I love and believe in. I have a swallow on my hip because, legend has it, swallows are always able to find their way back home, no matter where they migrate to. In moving so far away from where I was born and raised, I wanted to get a little something that reminds me that I can always find home, no matter where I go or where home may become. I have the quote, “In this fearsome pilgrimage, unearth a crusader’s heart,” on my ribs because I have always seen myself as an adventurer and a warrior. This quote gives me strength and reminds me that though times may get hard, I have a crusader’s heart and can power through while staying true to myself. And lastly, on the back of my neck, I got the "Star Wars" rebel alliance symbol. The symbol itself was based on a phoenix to symbolize rebirth, loyalty, and strength -- all traits I hold dear.
So why is it problematic for me to show my tattoos off? These designs that I chose to put on my body hold importance to me, so why should I be judged for the things I express? Quite simply, I feel like I am just showing off my beliefs in a different way than someone else might. And I know many people from my generation would agree. It’s time to change the stereotype that I’m a delinquent for having some ink in my skin. If the ink isn’t keeping me from being a genuinely good person or employee, it shouldn’t have any bearing on whether or not someone wants to be associated with me or give me a job. I am still the same person I was before I got some needles poked into my skin, and I will be the same person after I get more.
