Permanent Stigma?

Although some people see body art as a sign of expression, tattoos have always had a negative connotation and are taboo to many people. Tattoos are usually associated with crime, violence, promiscuity, and more. I got my first tattoo at the age of 15 and added to it from time to time. Friends and some family were surprised when they found out that I have gotten one. Even here at Year Up, most of my colleagues were surprised as well. People would associate me with being an innocent little boy and not with crime and violence. The foundation of this stigma began due to the majority of the people getting tattoos. These people were/are either in tribal groups or street gangs from all over the world. Members of tribes were looked at as uncivilized savages, and people affiliated with street gang were looked at as unruly criminals. This outlook was passed onto generation to generation and continues today. Even though tattoos have become much more popular and more accepted in recent years, it is still looked at as unprofessional and unethical in some cultures. For example, in the professional work environment, companies have their employees cover up their tattoos as much as possible because of the social stigma. Society judges others by their appearance, and if a lot of tattoos are visible, they will think that the person is not professional and immoral. The acceptance of tattoos has been rising in past years; however, the social stigma against tattoos still exists and affects many people’s judgment.