Contrary to what your parents or grandparents might think, sporting tattoos and piercings won’t actually prevent you from getting a job.
Crazy, right?
Body modification has been around for hundreds of years, but it’s not uncommon for collegiettes and our peers to have trouble explaining to our parents why we enjoy our tattoos and piercings so much. Many of us are met with confusion and dismayed looks, if not from our parents, then from our grandparents. But we too can find it confusing why our parents seem to think body art is somehow subversive.
For generations, parents and children have clashed over their world views. But body art/modification (often associated with teenage rebellion) has come to the forefront of the generation gap. In the minds of Millennials (the generation born between the early 1980’s and early 2000’s) body art is fairly mainstream. In the minds of Generation X (the generation born in the early 1960’s to early 1980’s,) however, body art carries a negative social stigma.
Some of this stigma comes from the idea that artists and their studios are unregulated and filled with disease ridden needles. While there are always some unethical shops, most studios are professional and clean. For instance, 48 states impose some sort of regulation on tattoo artists and their studios. These include licensing requirements as well as strict safety and sanitation standards not only for the equipment, but for the studio itself. Also, the Association of Professional Piercers recommends that artists, in addition to serving an apprenticeship with an experienced artist, attend classes about blood-borne pathogens as well as CPR/First Aid.
Another misconception is that body art is reserved for the fringes of society- criminals, rebellious teens, cult members, and the unemployed. However, according to Marcus Cota, a professional body piercer at Tailor Made Tattoo and Body Modification in Wisconsin, most of his clients are professional. And it’s not surprising because a well done tattoo from a good artist can cost upwards of $150 per hour. Body art is even becoming a standard part of some career fields. Maria Hicks, a copywriter based in New Mexico, says “”I’m in a creative field, and this is an expression of my creativity.”
Body art may still not be appropriate in all situations, but hopefully, we can begin to bridge the generation gap and continue to show our love for this universal art form!