Inked

Inked

Deanna Garrett

PHI103

PJ Rosch

April 15, 2011

Inked

Tattooing has been around for thousands of years and is the oldest form of art, containing as many different meanings as there are cultures around the world. Although this type of art form has been around for a long time, it is still considered taboo by the majority of society. There are many stereotypes about people who choose to have tattoos. People with tattoos, or body art, are generally perceived as rebellious, irresponsible, unintelligent, and often sometimes criminal. It is very easy to judge someone with body art rather than on their religion, skin color or gender. Too large of a portion, particularly in America, perceive tattoos as something “bad” or as a sign that the person getting them lacks good judgment. Many individuals need look past the stereotypes and understand is that there is no longer a “type” of person that tattoos their body, rather than types of ways of expressing one’s self.

One big point of controversy for many people today is the ban of visible tattoos in the work place. Many companies do not want visible tattoos on their employees in order to uphold reputation and to avoid any judgment of the company based on what their employees look like. Many individuals feel that this stifles their creativity and freedom of expression. Others look at tattoos as decorations on the body that should be hidden in the work environment. Because of this, strict dress codes are now being enforced to ensure that visible tattoos are to be covered completely. Depending on the environment and what type of industry it is, having strict rules about visible of tattoos might make sense. Although many employers have adjusted to this new fad, tattoos still carry a certain stigma in the work place. If tattoos are nothing but a visible problem, then why should it affect a person’s ability to do his or her job? “Many employers would likely be surprised to find out how many current employees have tattoos...