Tattoo Acceptance in America

I remember the first time I seriously considered getting a tattoo, and shared my idea with friends and family. Often, I was bombarded with the same questions--Do you think that will help you in your work aspirations? What about finding a quality man later in life? As well as my personal favorite, do you really think in 20 years you will still be happy with your decision to get a tattoo? Obviously, their concerns were valid and with good reason, and I occasionally found myself second guessing permanently inking something onto my skin. Tattoos have not always been (and arguably are still not) accepted in American society, especially in America's workforce.

Tattoos are one of the oldest forms of art, having been around for thousands of years and practiced in many different cultures. National Geographic states that in some societies tattoos are seen as "indelible marks of tribe or of status. They can signify a difficult passage to adulthood, or identify the owner's skills. One of the most popular reasons must surely be one of the oldest—body art adds to the beauty of the wearer."

These societies in which tattoos are common tend to be more indigenous and underdeveloped, but it is clear that tattoos are a trend that is growing among Americans and more developed countries in more recent years. In fact, a statistic from 2010 showed that nearly two in five Generation Y Americans have at least one tattoo, leading people to agree that society is slowly beginning to accept tattoos as a norm in society. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in February 2010 found that 60% of 18-25 year olds think that the increase in people being tattooed has caused no discernible impact on society, or the workforce.

This growth in tattoo popularity is also a very controversial one, and tattoo acceptance in the workplace is often questioned in America. Body art is often seen as unprofessional and unfit for most "respectable" careers--in fact, very rarely does one see a Fortune 500 company CEO sporting any visible tattoos. Despite the fact that tattoos are traditionally frowned upon in the workplace, John Challenger, CEO of Challenger Gray & Christmas, argues that tattoos are no longer a huge problem for companies who are seeking to hire new employees. Challenger says, “Even in this tight job market, most companies are not going to view tattoos too harshly… One reason is that with everyone from soccer moms to MIT computer science graduates sporting tattoos, preconceptions about tattooed individuals are no longer valid. More importantly, companies have a vested interest in hiring the most qualified candidate." That isn’t to say that an extremely tattooed man will get a job as a childcare worker though. Tattoos are becoming less taboo in our society, but there are still boundaries as to what is still seen as acceptable body art in the workforce, depending heavily on the industry the person is in.

As I sat in the tattoo shop with the needle centimeters from my skin, these thoughts raced through my head. What would others, especially more elderly people, think of my tattoo? Will it make me seem more incompetent in future job interviews? But despite any reservations, I knew that my decision to get a tattoo was one I was going to go through with. I currently have two jobs, ones that are okay with any non-offensive, visible tattoos on their employees. It is obvious that tattoos are much more accepted than they were just a mere twenty years ago, and several industries have joined the trend of employing people with tattoos. The popularity of tattoos is a rate that is growing constantly over the years, and society is slowly beginning to adapt, and even accept, a generation of inked men and women.