Tattoos have always been in the center of controversy and judgement in a social and professional context. Some view them as disturbances and countenances of rebellion while others view them as a form of self-expression and art. As with art, tattoos are subjective; you may love it but others may hate it.

First, we are faced with the battle of Parents vs. Tattoos. For some, this fight is easier to tackle than others—definitely not in my case. Our parents tell us all of the time to be our own self but they are repulsed by the idea of putting something on our body that we weren’t born with. This is not something all parents can understand and accept. Instead we get arguments such as, "Why would you want to mark up your skin like that?" or "Are you even going to want something like that in 30 years?" "How are you going to explain that to your own children?" and "What happens when your skin gets wrinkly?" "Are you really going to be happy with the way it looks then?" Well, it’s as simple as this: for many people in this generation, tattoos are forms of self-expression.They tell a story of a person’s experiences, their battles, their personal interests, beliefs and their achievements. In many cases, they depict who they are. So why try to suppress that? Yes, I am aware that my skin will not perpetually look like that of a 22 year old, but that’s okay with me. Those tattoos will be a reminder of the life I lived. As for my future children, I should be proud of the tattoos that I wear on my skin, so why should I be embarrassed to explain them to my children one day? Why is being individually unique a notion that always has been encouraged by our parents but frowned upon when it involves "getting inked?" The world may never know. We have to give them a semblance of credit, when they were our age, tattoos were a part of a different breed. Instead of being unique and artsy like today, they had a tinge of grunge and trashiness. But, we have come very far since then.

Now, there is a sense of beauty that comes along with tattoos. Tattoos have become a way to highlight a part of us that we may have been insecure about in a previous time. It is a way for people to start loving their bodies, love who they are and love who they will become. The images we choose to place permanently on our bodies create the ultimate sense of identity. Though you will find some people with the same tattoo, the meaning may be different and it's still beautiful in its own way. Tattoos are amazing; their intricate lines and brilliant colors form together to create a picture, a memory, and an expression.

Then there comes the endless battle of Tattoos vs. Professional Workplace. We hear the phrase, "tattoos can ruin lives in the professional world; they’re unprofessional and should be covered up" too often. But why? Correct me if I’m wrong, but employers look for individuality and creativity in potential employees. They look for someone who is going to bring something new to the table and be an asset to the company. Is it safe to say that people with tattoos have a sense of creativity? If they have the ability to create a piece of artwork that carries with it a sense of personal significance and place it on their body, can’t they use that same type of creative thinking to contribute to the company they are working for? Unfortunately, for many professional workplaces, this is not the case. They see tattoos and are immediately drawn away from them. Of course, it has to be taken into consideration that some people do have impulse tattoos that are less than tasteful. So maybe a red, fire-breathing dragon running from someone’s neck down and around their arm should be regarded carefully by an employer. But, if it can be covered up…

We have to remember, when it comes to finding and attaining jobs, that it is solely up to the individuals in charge of the company to decide who they want working for them—even if it is completely based on their appearance. If they have the qualifications and are well-rounded with experience, why should it matter if they have a tattoo here and there?

Since our community is driven by the idea of keeping up with appearances, the controversy that follows tattoos truly runs skin deep. But it’s unfortunate because this type of stigma hinders the beauty that is hidden within tattoos. They are created to celebrate life, commemorate the dead and elicit creativity and originality. Our bodies are vast open canvases, so why not use them to paint a portrait?