Op-Talk: Society's View of Tattoos

This summer, my family discussed different forms of personal artistic expression, such as body piercings, hair dying, and tattoos. My grandparents and uncle expressed their utter distaste for all of these, talking about vandalizing the human body and limiting opportunities for future jobs. My cousin and I, on the other hand, had a different view. These forms of artistic expression, in moderation, are additional ways for people to show their individuality.

Tattooing was done throughout history all over the world. We see tattoos on ancient Egyptian mummies, Roman soldiers, and warriors of the Crusades. Historically in America we see tattoos on circus performers, sailors and gang members. But, increasingly, we see tattoos on all sorts of people in America. Currently 14% of Americans have tattoos and 36% of people ages 18-25 have tattoos.

The question is, why judge these people? Yes, full body tattoos are distracting and arguably distasteful, but what is the harm of a few small, meaningful tattoos? I have thought about getting a tattoo of an inspiring phrase my grandfather often says, This too shall pass. I have friends who have ideas of images or phrases they want tattooed on themselves. We are not people upon whom to look down. We are not criminals. It seems that the choice to get a tattoo, like any other art form, should be respected. There is nothing wrong with not wanting a tattoo, but why judge a person who wants to express themselves through this medium?

One common societal view is that people with tattoos are more likely to be criminals. And there is some correlation between tattoos and crime. Dr. Jerome Koch, a professor of sociology at Texas Tech University, did a study on college students with tattoos. He surveyed 1753 students at various colleges in America on their tattoos (or lack thereof) and their “history of deviance.” 8.5% of students with no tattoos, 18.7% of students with one tattoo, 12% of students with two or three tattoos, and 70.6% of students with four or more tattoos surveyed said they had a history of one or more arrests (not including traffic crimes). It is safe to assume, based on this study and others like it, that disregarding people who are heavily tattooed, tattoos and crime have a low correlation. Heavily tattooed people, however, do seem to correlate with increased levels of crime. Another thing to remember about criminal activity and tattoos is the type of tattoo. I think we can all agree that someone with namaste tattooed on their wrist is probably not in a gang. A tattoo, like anything else, should not be the sole deciding factor in the workplace or social world. Employers should judge based on an applicant’s history, education, and personality, regardless of whether or not they have a tattoo. Tattoos do not necessarily mean that a person is a lower class, uneducated criminal. I strive to live in a world where this form of personal expression can be accepted. To be clear though, I am a firm believer in the saying, “everything in moderation.” I respect the choice to get one or two tattoos, but full body tattoos seem to be excessive and distasteful. But, hey, that’s just my opinion.