Since preschool we have heard it said, again and again, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In many ways, our nation is on its way toward following this rule. Yet, are there times when our society deems it appropriate, or even necessary, to judge another person by what they look like?
People who choose to get tattoos have gotten the short end of the stick, in this regard, for many years. Many employers have considered it unprofessional to have a visible tattoo in the work place, though in the past decade, the prejudice has begun to lift and for good reason. It cannot be denied, however, that noticeable prejudice toward job applicants with tattoos still exists.
There are many reasons why a person might decide to get a tattoo. In most cases, the intent is either artistic expression or a symbol with sentimental value or perhaps both. The attitude of the tattoo should reflect on the attitude of the person, just as a graphic T-shirt or other clothing or adornment might reflect on who someone is. If the shirt is obscene or offensive, it reflects badly— and one could say fairly—on a person’s work ethic and personality. If it is a beautiful shirt, however, or a nice jacket or a necklace that has been passed down through the family, the message is something else entirely.
The subject matter of the tattoo is what should reflect on a person, not the fact that it exists. After all, how could rejecting a prospective employee because of their tattoos, because of their means of expressing themselves, be any different from prejudices which we already frown upon?
American citizens enjoy the freedom of openly discussing their political views and religious views, which can reflect in clothing as well. We enjoy the freedom of writing and publishing what we believe, yet the brave person who scars the “sacred” blank canvas of his/her own body with artistic or personal expression is seen as inferior and unfit for a professional environment.
Such a person is labeled as untrustworthy and more capable of dishonest acts because of the stereotype which accompanies tattoos: the rough, rule-dismissing rebel, one step away from prison.
Our country, fortunately, is on the way to rejecting this stereotype as tattoos become even more common. Employers can no longer afford to exclude tattooed applicants in fear of not have a sufficient staff. However, the prejudice perseveres in attitudes and treatment toward employees in many cases. People are determined to defend the beliefs they are familiar with because to change one’s mind today would be to contradict what one has said yesterday, and that is a difficult thing to do.
The change is a slow change, but it is progression. People who choose to get tattoos will soon enjoy the freedom of expression and respect they deserve if our society can learn to see people for individuals and not stereotypes. If you have been dreaming of getting a tattoo, do not let the world intimidate you out of that choice. How you express yourself and manage your body is your domain, and displaying your freedom will help others and yourself to keep an open mind.
