I do not have a tattoo. This is my choice. I have nothing against tattoos. In fact, I think many tattoos look fantastic. My problem is with their destiny. Having seen what my father's Navy tattoo turned into, I have always feared how any tattoo may transform into a messy blob of unrecognizable inkiness. Now, I understand perfectly that today's artwork is less likely to suffer the same fate. But even if that turns out to be true, there still is a longevity issue of another kind - appropriateness. That little devil or whatever might be cute now, but what kind of message will it send in your 70's? Maybe a good one - who knows?Then there's body piercing. The ears, nose and lips have been getting things stuck through them for ages - other body parts coming later (but much longer than the last few decades). Piercing is often associated with certain sexual lifestyle choices. But I often wonder if everyone that chooses this type of body modification realizes what messages this potentially sends out - especially if they chose piercings for other reasons. I don't have any piercings either. Once again, I have nothing against them, I just never saw any good reason to get any. Maybe I see them as trendy.
Whether you like them or not, tattoos and piercings still have a lot of bias attached. There are a lot of businesses that would still discriminate against folks who have visible markings on their body. I'd like to see a study done that examines why people get tattoos and piercings. It would be interesting to see those figures.
Check out wikipedia for its articles on tattoos and piercings.
8 comments:
I would like to see a study done on why society is allowed to discriminate based on visual body markings, even in a generation where we get burned at the stake for discriminating against ANYTHING else. It's one thing to wonder why someone gets a piercing, tattoo, etc. I would like to know how people can get off judging others solely because the look is not appealing to them. It doesn't appear to be any different of a discrimination than racism: People judging others and disliking them because of their physical appearance, or because they don't look the same as you. Chalk this up the the never ending ignorance of the human race. Thank You, Good Night.
Actually, I wouldn't blame the ignorance of the whole human race on the existing discrimination. I say this because how people (generally) react to body modification depends on where you live. For example, in Western Culture, tattoos are seen as a form of disobedience or even belonging to a certain group (gang, military, etc.). But in some countries (Kyrghystan for example), tattoos are a sign that you've spent time in prison - and therefore are a person to be avoided.
So I'd chalk it up to a cultural bias than human ignorance. But the bias is based (my opinion) on the human tendency to abhor what you don't understand.
I think alot of the younger people who get tatoos, do it for the shock value, and they want to be different and unique...just like everyone else. It makes me laugh though when the same people complain that they are discriminated against.
What's unfortunate though, is that society tries to tell us it helps us stand out when we're different and unique. Just don't stand out for the wrong reasons.
I am tattooed and pierced because I want to be and I could careless about what anybody thinks. (Karl you're already well aware of that ;) ) But I also know my nose ring prevented me from getting jobs when I was younger, hence why the majority of my tattoos are easily concealed. Should I have to hide them? No. But I'm a realist. I got my first tattoos so people wouldn't look at my scars... I got the rest because frankly the damn things are addicting... I'm at 6 and have 7 more planned. Do I have good tattoos? Yes. Do I have bad tattoos, yes, I wasn't educated enough on tattoos when I got my first one. Will I let my little girl get one? When she's eighteen, and I will giver the same advice I give any one. Pick a design and then schedule the tattoo for 2 years in the future... if you're not sick of the idea by then it's a safe bet.
Petra
That sounds like good advice. However, imagine years from now, sitting around the old folks home, all the old fogies comparing their piercings and tattoos while trying to pull their sagging, wrinkly skin taut enough to make out what the hell they are. Be prepared to answer,"Gramma, why did you do that to your body?" I think I'll stick with collecting aquarium critters. I started with a few fish and now I keep wanting more.
Tattoos and Piercings are concidered to be anti-establishment in our society. Right or wrong that's just the way it is. Can you envision a prime minister with a septum ring or a first lady with a lip piercing? Or how about the president of the USA or any CEO of a company sporting a dozen or so random tattoos? People shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but they do.
All great comments. It will be interesting to see if the attitude changes over the next few decades. Who knows, maybe there will come a day when body modification becomes so commonplace, it will finally be accepted.
Just ask anyone who lived in the 50's what connotations were attached to a woman baring her belly in public. Then think about how (especially young) women dress today.
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