Photo credit: https://www.tattoo.com/blog/hidden-tattoos-workplace/
It has been long debated on whether or not tattoos should be considered when determining the qualifications of potential employees. Research has shown that a great portion of companies do not prefer employees to have tattoos. As the number of millennials and iGens enter the workforce, the stereotype surrounding tattoos are dramatically decreasing. Art itself has become more widely accepted and appreciated, especially art illustrated through tattoos.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TATTOOS
Tattoos have been around for generations, and it dates back to between 3370 B.C. and 3100 B.C. Europe's oldest mummified body, Otzi the Iceman, was discovered to have 61 different tattoos on his well-preserved body. In different cultures and eras of civilization, the art of tattooing on someone's body seemed to be barbaric. As we can see today, many of these generalizations have transcend time and is present to this day. The perspective on tattoos learned from ancient history has carried negative implications on people who have tattoos. On the other hand, in Ancient Egypt, historians believed that tattoos were a form of medical treatment such as pelvic peritonitis. In Ancient Rome and Greece, tattoos were used to brand people such as criminals and slaves.
Comparatively, there are cultures such as the Samoan people who view tattoos as a form of cultural tradition and plays a role in their social environment. In Samoan tradition, people not only have tattoos that symbolize their cultural identity, but they are also expected to learn how to do tattoos on others. The tattoo process is different from Western cultures as it may take up to weeks to complete one piece of tattoo on someone's body.
TOWARD A MORE DIVERSIFIED SOCIETY
Over the past century, tattoos began to become more socially acceptable. Tattoos are very prevalent in the entertainment industry such as rappers and singers. The debate on whether or not tattoos should be accepted in the workplace depends on the job you have and the work environment. Many companies are more open-minded and do not require their employees to cover up their tattoos. Due to the past stigma surrounding tattoos, our society believes that those who have tattoos on their body are probably unprofessional, lazy, or ill-minded. Another factor companies will consider is if their tattoos in which depicts their value and personality can align with the company’s values and goals.
As companies who depend on trends and reputation, they should be open-minded to potential employees who may have tattoos. Tattoos do not symbolize or define a person's skills, but they depict a person's values. These art pieces express a person’s individuality and it offers the company to really get to know their current and potential employees. Many people who have tattoos often times than not has decided to choose a specific art piece on their body to make their personality more visible. For example, Western singers and rappers get tattoos that represent their culture. It should not become an issue where potential employees feel the need to cover up their tattoos and their pure identity in order to satisfy employers who hold them against stereotypes.
Will there be a day where people can express this art form freely without having to question whether or not their tattoos will prevent them from job opportunities?
Sources:
Hidden Tattoos in the Workplace. (2017, November 20). Retrieved from https://www.tattoo.com/blog/hidden-tattoos-
workplace/
Gross, B. (2018, April 02). Tattoos in the Workplace: What's an Employer to Do? Retrieved from
https://www.allbusiness.com/tattoos-in-the-workplace-whats-an-employer-to-do-4113152-1.html
Hunter, D. (n.d.). History & Origin of Tattoos. Retrieved from https://authoritytattoo.com/history-of-tattoos/
