Us teenagers and young adults today have a difficult time expressing our true emotions and feelings. We want to be able to exude our personalities in nearly any way possible. What is wrong with that? Yeah, nothing. We were always taught to be nothing but ourselves. Tattoos just happen to be one way that we are able to do so.

Roughly 25-30 years ago, tattoos were found mainly on sailors, prison inmates, and gang members. Naturally, after this, ink gained a bad reputation. People began to judge and look down upon others who were tattooed.

“My body is a journal in a way. It’s like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something, a specific time in your life when you make a mark on yourself.” – Johnny Depp

This still occurs in today’s society. Some members of our culture just can’t oversee the idea that people are allowed to express themselves. I was reading through some comments and I was completely appalled and offended by what people were saying. For example:

“They are trashy. I don’t care how beautiful or classy a woman appears, as soon as I see a tattoo she drops in the class level in my opinion on her. They make a woman look cheap, dumb, and uneducated.”

“Look at me!! People with tattoos are looking for attention and want people to think they have a toughness about them. I see someone who is not that bright with an inferiority complex and low weekly paycheck.”

It baffles me that someone can say this about people they don’t even know! Statistically, the majority of people that are against tattoos are middle aged to elderly. I’m not saying young adults don’t feel this way because I’m sure some do. It’s just crazy that people can be so harsh about judging someone’s appearance without even knowing who they truly are or what their tattoos mean.

Why do we discriminate others for what they decide to do with themselves? It truly does not make any sense. Does the ink on my skin determine how well I work or how professional I am? No. Does the ink on my skin make me a bad person? No. Does the ink on my skin harm you in any way? No.

Tattooing has become a respectable art form today and I wish more people would see it this way. Many of the people in older generations are the ones hiring us young adults. If I am being denied a job where I won’t be allowed to be myself and express my own personality, I gladly would find somewhere else to go.

The things that are put on my body are there for myself, and myself only. They are meaningful and creative and they represent me as a person. I don’t care what anyone has to say.

“I feel that people who are okay with having tattoos, dyed hair or anything out of the ‘normal’ are people I just want to be around more. It shows me that others’ opinions don’t control their lives and I like that a lot.”

Tattoos are becoming more and more popular with Generation Y. We are foreseeing the act of rebellion, but rather gaining the feeling of independence and individualism. I know my parents always say “wait until you’re my age. That thing will look disgusting.” But you know what, I can’t wait! I can’t wait for us millennials to be rocking saggy, wrinkly tattoos that look like our grandchildren drew them. Because I know that at one time they meant a whole lot to me (and probably still do). Sure we got a few bad ones along the road, but you live and you learn. They make for a good memory.

If there is anything that I want people to take from this article, it would be the understanding that tattooing is a form of art in today’s culture. I’m not trying to criticize anyone at all, I just want people to see it from a fellow tattooed young adults’ perspective. No one is begging for attention, we just are begging to be ourselves.

“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” - Thich Nhat Hanh