Tattoos have become more apparent on the bodies of some, continue to leave false impressions on others

 

 

Mr. Justin McIntyre, left, waits as Irezumi tattoo artist Blake Shamburger finishes his "sleeve" tattoo. The tattoo, which has taken over four years to complete, often gives others negative, false impressions. Photo by Mary O'Leary

 

by Mary O’Leary

Tattoo artist Justin McIntyre, covered in a colorful array of tattoos, walked into a local grocery store and asked the store clerk for a job application. The clerk took 10 seconds to scan McIntyre from head to toe, shook his head, and told McIntyre that the store was no longer hiring. As McIntyre left the supermarket, he passed a sign saying ‘Assistant Manager Needed.’ He quickly realized he had been denied the job because of his clearly visible ‘sleeve’ tattoo decorated with baby Buddhas and various birds.

‘Tattoos can be amazing works of art and it’s too bad some people will judge you for having them,’ McIntyre said. ‘[Before I became an artist], even I thought tattoos were trashy, but when I started seeing my friends work as tattoo artists I was shocked at the true art of them.’

McIntyre has been working at Irezumi tattoo parlor for the past three years. Like McIntyre, STA students sporting tattoos feel themselves being prejudged just because ink covers parts of their bodies.

‘I feel like a lot of people who don’t really know me or who aren’t my close friends judge me for having [tattoos],’ junior Emily Cox said.

According to Harris Interactive, tattoos have always been associated with sex, drugs and ‘rock ‘Ëœn’ roll’; as they were introduced to mainstream society by influential rock stars like the Rolling Stones in the 1970′s and 1980′s. Today, people still see tattoos on celebrities of all kinds, whether it’s professional sports figures or movie stars.

‘When people see tattoos on celebrities they think that tattoos in general are less trashy and more attractive,’ sophomore Brianna Casey said.

According to Inked Magazine, today’s society is becoming more open to these not so foreign markings on the skin. In 1936, a Pew Research Center survey showed that approximately 6 percent of the American population had at least one tattoo. By 2006, that numbered jumped to approximately 36 percent of people age 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those age 26 to 40.

‘Tattoos are more common; people see them all the time,’ Irezumi employee Beth Burns said. ‘It’s not just a sailor with an anchor [tattoo] on his arm anymore and people think ‘ËœOh, he’s hard core.”

Although the American culture is warming up to the idea of tattoos, some STA students still have their opinions and judgments towards tattoos.

‘It depends on what the tattoo is of,’ junior Sophia Garozzo said. ‘A lot of the time I think they are pretty cool when simple and small, but when it gets to arms and/or legs being covered, it’s a bit frightening at first glance.’

With nearly 15,000 tattoo shops nationwide and a $2.3 billion industry, tattoos are quickly leaving their mark on society.

‘Art is changing and it’s not as intimidating to walk into [a tattoo shop],” McIntyre said. ‘It’s not like an old, biker man [will yell] ‘ËœWhat do you want?”

According to McIntyre, tattoos have definitely broken their ‘Ëœex-convict’ image, and have created a new image themselves in today’s culture. STA theology teacher Betsy Hansbrough agrees.

‘Society is much more accepting of people who have tattoos than they were when I was a teenager,’ Hansbrough said. ‘Even getting your ears pierced was pretty ‘Ëœon the edge’ when I was a senior in high school.’

According to Dr. Roy G. Geronemus, less people are hiding tattoos on their body, and tattoos are seen in more visible places. This trend has come along way in society and will continue to knock down stereotypes and judgments.

‘People have always gotten tattoos ‘Ëœunder the shirt’ but now they’re everywhere,’ McIntyre said. ‘You can still find places that will hire you; it used to hard to even places that would rent to you.’