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Tattoos & PrejudiceIntolerance Towards People With TattoosIt is estimated that between 15 to 25% of American people have tattoos. Even it that figure was only around 10% it would still represent quite a lot of people with ink. We are seeing tattoos and tattoo culture being portrayed in mainstream media more and more with designers such as Jean Paul Gautier, Miss Sixty (who have no real connection or interest in tattoos) and even children's clothing designers plundering tattoo culture and repackaging it.Alongside this are TV shows such as Miami Ink and Inked which is also having an knock on effect and pushing the demand up by people who previously may have never considered getting a tattoo suddenly wanting to be part of the 'tattoo crowd'. As a result many tattooists are experiencing unprecedented demand for their services and many are booked out months in advance. Some workplaces 'appear' to be catching up with this trend and allowing a certain degree of self expression around the office. Although this may also be due to the fact that people of all walks of life and social demographics are getting tattoos including lawyers, professors and police officers. You would be forgiven for thinking that tattoos didn't carry the stigma they once did when they were the preserve of sailors, whores and criminals.  Public relations director Joe Chernov showing his tattoos © Boston.com Scratch beneath the surface and you will see that the prejudice towards those with tattoos never really went away but is alive and well. You only have to read some of the views of supposedly 'educated' newspaper columnists to see the extent of the prejudice. Prejudice is prejudice in whatever form you find it and is symptomatic of a dis-eased mind which has deluded itself into thinking that the other person (be they black, Asian or colored with tattoos) is somehow inferior. Any society that denies a person an opportunity based on skin color (tattoos are colors on skin!) is not a particularly free or evolved society. A truly free society should allow everyone to be who they are and express themselves how they wish without being a victim of prejudice or intolerance. Yet everyday we read reports of people being fired from their jobsbecause their boss discovered they had tattoos or denied treatment by doctors for the simple reason that they had tattoos. Companies and corporations need to realize that consistency, respect for diversity are keys to a successful workplace. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers are allowed to impose dress codes and appearance policies as long as they do not discriminate or hinder a person's race, color, religion, age, national origin, or gender. Having tattoos covered up is fine what is not fine is firing someone because they revealed a tattoo at an out of work softball game. This type of thing seems to be happening more and more.  Tattooed professional Mae Legassey shows her back tattoo. © Boston.com Some people with tattoos (and piercings) would argue that tattoos are inherently spiritual. Traditionally body art was a form of sacred self-expression with connections to religious and spiritual beliefs. Certain ethnic groups such as Maori people in New Zealand and Polynesians have tattoos laden with cultural and spiritual significance. So there is no doubt that tattoos are associated with events beyond the mundane level of existence. I think it is a whole mindset that needs to be changed. Least of all that working is not the end all and be all of life. Work does not define who we are. The main argument against tattoos is that they will inhibit an individuals ability to get a job. That needs to be changed. Corporate life is only one small level of existence. There are so many more careers out there (such as in the field of arts for instance) that one no longer needs to be a corporate chimp climbing the corporate ladder in order to be successful.  View 1000's of Tattoos in This Massive Collection of Tattoo Art!
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