Tattooed & Pierced - Breaking the Stereotype

 Many groups that contain the less common of people complain about being judged upon.  This prejudice should not be seen as not as severe versus other prejudices  such as racism, sexism, and discrimination upon religious beliefs. There are ways however people can help to break the stereotypes.
 First off, stop having such a grudge against  the discrimination. This will make people view others with modifications as hard-headed or unforgiving. "Cutting the attitude," as stated by the article is a good way to start. Being kind and your general self is a good way to start, don't be snobby and don't go looking for a fight. Another thing is to go against the flow, if you keep thinking about the negative stereotypes of your modifications, chances are you will act that way. Do what is unexpected of you. Go the extra mile in the work you do, shine above the rest. Simply smiling or greeting someone warmly can change someones point of view on you. Lastly, random acts of kindness to people whom you don't know will show that people with body art and piercings aren't all bad, but kind, and it will make a positive impact on people you do and don't know, softening the ways they see body modifications.


Analysis:
 Despite the negative stereotypes place upon body modifications, people with body modifications can do small things that will go a long way. Doing what is unexpected and going against the stereotypes of their modifications is a great way to start changing others point of views on people with body art.


Reflection Questions:
1. How do you view people with body modifications?
2. What are other possible ways to expand acceptance of body modifications?


Citation:


Hudson, K. L. (n.d.). About.com. Retrieved from http://tattoo.about.com/cs/articles/a/break_stereotyp.htm

Tattoos And Their Stigmas And Stereotyping: Women And Their Ink

 Even to this modern day and age, people are still being judged for the permanent art they choose to place upon their body.  The common stereotypes placed mutually  onto men and women are rebellious, bikers, punk-rockers, and criminals, as well as girl having poor morals. The people who choose to mark their body varies across the social statuses, there is no bias.  Tattoos are used as self-expression, a way to show a person feelings, beliefs, or likes on the outside.
  Sadly, many individuals read more into tattoos than what they really are. They judge the individual with the body art to be irrational, immature, idiotic, rebellious, criminal. Also, people have a tendency to be very stubborn. They don't like to be proven wrong, and to have. their preconceptions messed with. 
  Women get the worse of the rap. They have more nasty stereotypes associated with their body art. They are seen as tramps, loose. Even today, as older and more broad  types and amounts of people are getting tattoos, these beliefs are strong and thriving.
 The author of this article feels that tattoos should not affect how a person obtains a job, just a sex,  orientation, religion, or weight doesn't affect it.  An annoying stereotype she feels particularly strong about is the "Tramp Stamp." Its a tattoo on the lower small of a girls back. The author of this article didn't get tattoos till her 50's and she doesn't have a tramp stamp, however she feels that because it is associated with a girl being promiscuous, that the stereotype should be abolished. It is unfair for a girl to be judged simply because she chose to put a small artwork on the middle of their lower back. This is a common place as it is easy to hide and not overwhelming,thus the overabundance of these tattoos.
 People who get tattoos should put a lot of time and thought into it before they get one. They should weigh out whether or not they can deal with the negative stereotypes, if they truly want what they will get, and whether or not the area will stretch or morph with age.


Analysis:
 Even now people are judged for their personal body art. Women tend to get the worse of the stereotypes, and everyone should think deeply before getting tatted up.


Reflection Questions:
1. Do you think women deserve to have more negative stereotypes than men?
2. What are your opinions on the "Tramp Stamp?"


Citation:
A little crazy in a crazy world. (2008, 06 02). Retrieved from http://delaney55.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/tattoos-and-their-stigmas-and-stereotyping-women-and-their-ink/ 

Professional dress code and Tattoos

  Throughout history tattoos have come a long way. They started off as "freak shows," where the people with them generally were in the circus. Then came the wave of sailors and marines sporting body art. After came the age of prison tattooing, followed by rebellious kids. 
  Nowadays, it is extremely common to find people with tattoos. Many corporations, even restaurants, ban  any form of visible body modifications, and many "higher-up" jobs ban any modifications all together. People risk their chances of obtaining a job, as 42% of managers have admitted that if they see body modifications, their opinion of you will decrease. People see tattoos as a sign of immaturity and of  being unprofessional.
 Despite desperate attempts to hide tattoos, if you are caught with one by a manager, they can fire you, for finding other reasons, or if you live in an 'at will' state, you can be fired right away without an explanation.

Analysis:
 This article puts a more negative spin to tattoos, stating ALL tattoos nowadays are  purposeless, immature, and rebellious. Corporations will find body modifications as offensive, tasteless, so this can affect your ability to obtain a job, and can be denied on the spot.




( PERSONAL OPINION TIME: This article is written by a manager, and they seem to be very....ignorant. The author states everyone with body modifications are un-educated, poor, or immature.)


Reflection Questions:
1. Do you feel that all tattoos should be banned from the workplace?
2. If you were a manager, how would you go about selecting people with body modifications, if they were fully qualified for the position?




Burleson. (n.d.). Professional dress code and tattoos. Retrieved from http://www.dba-oracle.com/dress_code_tattoos.htm

Military Tattoos Go Beyond Skin-Deep

 Throughout history, tattooing has always been common among sailors and soldiers. It was a common and creative way of showing their war past or a way to remember their days at sea or the fallen. The 'original' sailor tattoos were based on anchors, and ships as tattoos were really just solid colors and lines. Nowadays we have gray washes that allow fading and shades, which can be used to make vivid details and designs. 
 Many soldiers have gotten fallen friends faces' on tattooed onto their arms in honor of them. They also choose designs or something that can symbolize fallen friends as well. However, people are coming forth and doing more for themselves as well. An example is Marine Staff Sgt. Mike Mendoza, who is 27. He has been in Iraq 3 times, and has three tattoos, one for each time he has gone, each symbolizing an event that had happened there. One is a "meat tag." Meat tags are basically permanent dog tags including the soldiers name, blood type, service branch, and social security number, the same as a dog tag.  According to the article, meat tags also help identify injured or fallen soldiers who have lost any other form of ID.


Analysis:
 Tattooing is a common among soldiers, for various forms of reasons. Anything from identification, remembering fallen friends, and personal reasons. It has become a vivid way of showing one's personal feelings.




Citation:
George, Jason. "Military Tattoos Go Beyond Skin-Deep." Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL). Oct. 3 2006: n.p. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 22 Apr 2012.


Reflection Questions:

1) Why do you feel soldiers often get tattoos to remember painful pasts?


2) Do you feel that Meat Tags are good or bad ideas? Why?

Tattoos and Piercings: Issues of Body Modification and the Workplace

Summary:


 The vast increase in tattoos and piercings has caused conflicts in the workplace that has created an issue in the courts. Generally, discrimination in employment decisions based upon body modifications are not illegal, unless the person with the body modification is a member of a protected class, specifically  a religious class.
 Tattoos and body piercings- " described as a piercing anywhere in the body besides the soft spot of the earlobe (page 5),"- has become more common throughout the years.  The book talks about an article called "Tattoos now mainstream,(page6)" which discusses the legal aspects of hiring and employment decisions that can be hindered by any outspoken body modification. 
    Although tattooing has been around for centuries, the number of people who have permanently inked their body has increased  tremendously. "Life magazine estimated in 1936 that only 10% of the American population was tattooed in whole or in part." Now its hard to get a relatively precise number, due to how many people have them nowadays. 


Analysis:
 Tattoos and piercings are now a common thing to see among the newer generations. These visible body modifications is now hindering a person's ability to obtain a job, due to the outlandish nature. The only way around this rule, is to have a legitimate reason for the tattoo asides personal value, such as having a religious reason.  The discrimination of people with body modifications is legal, and is being fought over in the courts.


Reflection Questions:

• Do you believe someones ability to get a job should be hindered by body modifications?
• Should you be allowed to have tattoos or piercings at a workplace if you can hide them?
• What are your personal views on the discrimination on people with tattoos and piercings?

Donna, K. (2011). Tattoos and piercings: Issues of body modifications and the workplace. (76 ed., Vol. 1). Gale, Cengage Learning.

Tattoo Art Flows into Mainstream Ads

By Azam Ahmed 


Summary: 
 Tattoos, originally a form of self expression, has now become a way of advertising. Tattoos are now all over magazines, in commercials, and modeling. People in them also have tattoos that are advertising exactly what the advertisements are about, becoming a human advert, thus standing out more.  Tattoo artist are being hired by companies to tattoo people who will star in their advertisements. Many tattoo artist view the ones being hired by companies as sell outs, as they aren't doing what they want.


 Analysis: 
 These various forms of advertising are making tattoos become more common and acceptable than before. They have desensitized people to tattoos, and peoples reactions to tattoos aren't as outrageous as before, and people with tattoos  are also getting modeling jobs purely for their tattoos.



 Should advertisements use tattoos as a way of showing off their products?
 Should people allow themselves to be used as human advertisements, as well as should tattoo artist be willing to do such work?


Ahmed, Azam. "Tattoo Art Flows into Mainstream Ads." Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL). 08 Mar 2007: n.p. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 26 Feb 2012.

Essential Question:
 Do body modifications really affect someone's character, or are the negative stereotypes associated with them incorrect?