Not many of us can say that our parents have tattoos, and even less of us can say that our grandparents are “tatted.” And yet, as time progresses, tattoos have grown in popularity. Looking around Bucknell, it is not unusual to see a girl or boy sporting a tattoo. It’s, simply, a form of expression, a form of art, and a part of one’s identity. Yet, as we make the decision to express ourselves in the form of permanent body art, are we jeopardizing our future careers?
If this were 1994, yes, we would most definitely be jeopardizing our potential success. However, it’s 2015. Our generation has paved a new path; our generation has sought to create a society more accepting, more liberating. In doing so, arguably, our generation has probed the taboo surrounding tattoos. The tattoo taboo—within the workplace – no longer exists, to an extent.
With an estimated 40 perfect of Generation Y tattooed, it is only logical that society start moving towards a more accepting society. About 73 percent of people get their first tattoo between 18 and 22 years old (Pew Research Center). Is it really fair for a company to judge one’s ability based on their personal self-expression? By discriminating against though who are tattooed, companies are presenting the notion that one’s image is more important than one’s intelligence, experience, and personal ambition.
The issues surrounding tattoos brings to the light how industry traditions, new social norms, and legal concerns conflict in the modern workplace. Still, some industries struggle to accept the new social norms—judging potential workers based on tattoos and piercings, or requesting that any body art or piercings be nonvisible within the work environment. However, these companies are being overshadowed by the industries that have become truly accepting of body art. While no surprise comes when hearing art-related jobs and blue-collar jobs accept tattoos, it is shocking (in a good way) to hear that corporate, educational, and medical industries are becoming tolerant.
According to Bank of America Spokeswoman Ferris Morrison, the company has no discriminatory practices used when it comes to body art on corporate employees. Morrison explicitly asserted, “We have no formal policy about tattoos because we value our differences and recognize that diversity and inclusion are good for our business and make our company stronger.” To many of us, it’s enlightening, and reassuring, to hear these words come from a top executive of one of America’s top banks.
While workplace policies differ, depending on fields of practice and specific companies, it is fair to assert that having a tattoo in 2015 certainly does not destroy our chances at having a prosperous career and future.