<p>I’m interested to see how other parents are feeling about tattoos.</p>
<p>My D (first-year college student) is going to get a tattoo. As tattoos go, it’s a pretty one. She’s a talented artist, and it’s a moth she’s drawn herself. She intends to get it on her arm someplace, I think.</p>
<p>As parents, we’re not in a position to forbid it. She’s 18, and her Dad has several tattoos. She also reminds us that, when she was about 12, we told her she could get one when thought we’d be sailing across the Pacific in a small boat and would be visiting the islands where those tribal tattoos were born. (That trip did not happen, but she remembers the promise.)</p>
<p>She also reminds us that “everyone has them now, the stigma is gone…” And I look around and I see that seems to be true. Lots and lots of young professionals here in our New England city have tattoos. When you see millennials depicted in the media, they are often shown with full- or half-sleeve tattoos.</p>
<p>Yet I can’t shake the feeling that she’ll regret it later, that it’ll hinder her at some point in her life.</p>
<p>I’d love to hear other parents thoughts and experiences!</p>
<p>Years ago I hoped that by the time my daughter became 18 this “trend” would have faded. It doesn’t really seem to be a trend as I’d hoped. My kids have not said too much about tattoos, so I’m hoping it means they are not that interested. We have talked a bit about placement after seeing a college age guy that had a tattoo on his neck that went up onto his face. I’ve decided that I’m just not going to worry about it. If my kids decide to get tattoos some day, I can’t stop it. I’ve read that tattoo removal is a lot better than it used to be. If they regret it, they can get rid of it. My oldest daughter has a pierced belly button. I hate it. It would be one thing if she had a ball type stud in it, but she’ll wear an elaborate dangly thing when she wears a bikini. We live at a lake all summer, so I see it a lot. I hate it. I really can’t imagine a situation where anyone in a workplace will see her belly button, so I don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of tattoos and also believe that they may later be regretted. I agree, however, with your assessment that among millennials the stigma seems to have disappeared. I reminded my D that those in older generations often do the hiring. Also, one never knows where life will lead. With that said, and over my objection, my D got a small tattoo on her wrist. It is easily covered with a watch or bracelet. I can live with that (not that I really have a choice). It’s the nose piercing that really got me …yikes! At least she wears a very tiny stud that is barely noticeable. I hope this will be the end of her body decoration phase. </p>
<p>Given that the trend started in the '90s, I don’t think it’s going away. That said, I’d agree with advising on a location that is easily covered as some jobs are more conservative than others. </p>
<p>I got a tattoo right before college graduation and still don’t regret it, 15 years later.</p>
<p>Placement is key. Depending on the industry there is still some stigma. The military for example has various guidelines on tattoo visibility. Our paper had an article not long ago about recruits that were rejected or put on hold until tattoos were removed, which is very expensive and painful. One young lady in the article was having a wrist tattoo removed. Also certain tattoo subject matter would be frowned upon - so that’s something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>There are tons of threads about tattoos on here. I agree that times have changed and it’s no longer a sign of “wildness” as it used to be, but more about personal expression and style. </p>
<p>That said, there are still going to be those who will always find any tattoo, no matter what it’s of or how well drawn, aesthetically unpleasing so you have to think about to the extent to which you care about others find your personal expression aesthetically unpleasing and how much you’re willing to tone that down (if at all). That applies, of course, to how you wear your hair, and your makeup, and what you dress in, but obviously a tattoo is a permanent choice and the others aren’t.</p>
<p>I think we’d all agree that it’s fairly prudent to have “unobservable” or unobtrusive tattoos in places that can be easily covered up, and that there is a huge difference between the small rose on someone’s wrist or ankle, and say, full sleeves.</p>
<p>I’m personally in the camp of “I don’t like any tattoos, no matter what” but that’s just on aesthetic grounds - I just don’t like ink tattooed on skin. It’s not a moral judgment, just an aesthetic one. However, if I did, and a tattoo was personally meaningful to me, I’d get it and to hell with what other people thought. I just prefer any permanent sentiments I have to be expressed in other ways and I think the human body is best left more naturally - I’d feel the same way about tattoos as I would bright garish makeup or an 80’s style mullet – not my aesthetic taste, but it doesn’t say anything about the person other than they don’t share my aesthetic sensibilities.</p>
<p>Not a fan of tatts at all, but when S said he was getting one on his wrist (it would be under a watch band or shirt cuff) of something sailors have, nothing I could do about it so I said if that what he wants fine by me. But, I know he hates shots/needles of any kind so was betting on him chickening out and not getting one. I was right. </p>
<p>I don’t like tattoos and my husband hates them. My son has several. When we realized he was likely to keep doing them, we talked to him about making sure they were located where a short-sleeved shirt would cover them up. He did follow that advice. My daughter recently got a small one and (of course, being her) did not follow that advice. </p>
<p>A segue, I know one lady who had her husband’s ashes put into the ink for her tattoo. </p>
<p>Oh boy, this topic again. Long story short, this will thread will probably get responses that run the gamut from “I think tattoos are a legitimate form of self-expression and I have several myself” to “People who get tattoos are immature, addicted to attention, and probably also mentally ill.” </p>
<p>Millennials as a whole are very accepting of tattoos (and piercings). I am in a PhD program in psychology and I’d guess about a third of the grad students in the (large) program have a tattoo or facial piercing. I think it’s sound advice generally to get tattoos that can be covered by professional clothing (and piercings can be removed for interviews and the like) but I think that attitudes are swiftly changing. It is generational though - I am aware that my advisor would probably rather I not have a facial piercing, so I take it out for professional conferences. However, when I came down to breakfast at my first conference sans eyebrow ring, the other graduate students were outraged that someone would suggest that I alter my appearance. </p>
<p>The moral of the story is that it’s probably a good idea to have the option to disguise tattoos and other modifications, given attitudes of older generations who may be in charge, but times are swiftly changing and I doubt 20 years from now this will really be much of an issue. </p>
<p>I don’t like them either. My younger S wants one but so far, hasn’t acted on it. Unfortunately, needles don’t phase him but I keep hoping he’ll lose interest. </p>
<p>My mother hates any and all kinds of body modifications except for ear piercings. I have a lip piercing and have several tattoos planned for the future, and unfortunately my mother is just going to need to get over it. Many young adults in the workforce have tattoos and they are widely accepted and not a hindrance to getting or maintaining a job. Almost all of my coworkers in education have visible tattoos, and none of them regret them. Even in more conservative careers, they can easily be concealed with long sleeves</p>
<p>I guess the question is, in all the discussions we’ve had here on CC about tatts, has anyone ever changed their mind about them based on a discussion here?</p>
<p>Yeah, not much new to say here. Tats are very common in Seattle, with people of all ages. Even in high-end restaurants I have seen full-sleeve tattoos. Piercings are very common as well. In D’s school district, they cannot be showing (staff, not students), in Seattle, they are allowed. I have two small ones, H has none. Oldest, who thought would be covered with tattoos, has none, his sister has several, hidden and non, and is employed in the restaurant industry. I know a pastor with several. </p>
<p>Live and let live is my issue. If a kid wants one, it’s not like they want to sit at a desk in starched shirt and tie anyway. More power to them.</p>
<p>I’m not going to rehash everything I’ve said in the prior tattoo threads, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that beneath those shirts and ties (and it’s the rare office outside of NYC maybe where you even see ties) are a number of tattoos. Corporate offices are no longer even close to tattoo-free. There have been a number of articles in the WSJ about this over the last 5 years or so. </p>
<p>I am an attorney, have several tattoos which I love. All CAN be covered, but the lower leg ones often show if I don’t have on dark hose or pants. It has not affected me adversely at all in my career. I got my first one at age 48. </p>