One would think that the negative stigmas associated with tattoos would have diminished by now, after all we do live in the twenty-first century. Of course that is not the case and if you are thinking of getting a new tattoo you need to realize that tattoos are still considered taboo in many professional jobs.
Places You Should Avoid Tattooing
Although many tattoos are somewhat accepted by society such as tramp stamps on women and bicep tattoos on men. There are areas of the body that you should avoid tattooing if you have any apsiration for a professional job of some sort in the future.
Whatever you do, don’t tattoo your face. If there is one spot on your body that almost everyone looks down on it’s a facial tattoo. A facial tattoo pretty much says “I give up on becoming successful in any way, now look at my face!”.
Other places you should avoid tattooing if you have any aspiration for professional success are ; the neck, top of your hands, your head (anywhere a professional haircut will expose your tattoo), and anything that can’t be covered up by a t-shirt should be pretty much avoided.
There are of course many seccessful professionals with full sleeve tattoos although most of them cover their tattoos every day with long sleeve shirts to hide their body art.
Tattoo Acceptance Around The World
Many countries around the world still view tattoos as associated with organized crime or thugs. One example is the Japanese who still do not allow people with tattoos to enter bathhouses (a common place to socialize in Japanese society). The ones that do allow tattoos are usually in seedy neighborhoods that you probably wouldn’t want to visit anyway.
The reason for the Japanese dislike for tattoos comes from the Yakuza (similar to the American Mofia) who traditionally have huge highly detailed back piece tattoos that cover their entire back, upper arms, and butt. The sight of a large tattoo in Japan can easily cause someone to move to the opposite side of the street and cause people to stare.
Along with bathouses many Japanese waterparks do not allow patrons to expose their tattoos which means tattooed visitors must spend their time in the park wearing a long sleeve shirt or long pants to conceal their body art. Until recently the discovery of a tattoo at a Japanese waterpark would cause immediate dismissal from the park but with the influx of modern tattoos many parks have relaxed their rules and allow patrons to cover their tattoos without fear of dismissal.
Think Before You Ink
In closing I would just like to stress that tattoos are permenant and choosing the proper placement is essential, not only for the tattoos sake but for your potential carreer as well. I suggest that you keep all your tattoos under your “T-shirt Line” so that you aren’t condemend to a life of long sleeves at work.
14 responses so far ↓
1 YoMo // Sep 6, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I would counter this with 2 things. 1, you always have the option of choosing a field of work and place of work that doesn’t have these issues. There’s a big difference between being tattooed and in telemarketing in Denver versus tattooed and a well-paid programmer in Seattle. 2, consider you choice of tattoos and the reason for getting it. You might not be able to argue that your tattoos shouldn’t be covered for work if you got something offensive to many people or cliché like a butterfly or skull. I have tattoos ranging from large ones on my legs that are easily covered by pants, to a small one on my wrist that isn’t under a watch or jewelry. However, each tattoo of mine has deep religious significance to me. Your best bet is to ask straight out in the interview if it will be a problem. Then it’s your choice of what to do from there.
2 andi // Nov 14, 2008 at 4:04 am
You said “One would think that the negative stigmas associated with tattoos would have diminished by now, after all we do live in the twenty-first century”, but then go on to give exactly the advice of avoidance which perpetuates prejudice. As soon as anything becomes clearly mainstream, whether that’s piercings, facial tattoos or parading sexuality; there’s really no choice other than it being accepted (whether liked by individuals or not).
And just for the record, I have tattoos covering both arms and hands, piercings in my face, I wear hoodies and ripped jeans at work, and I live in Japan. I’m a professional consultant, and so far – although it’s attracted comments, it hasn’t lost me any work.
3 john // Feb 10, 2009 at 10:04 am
Now as far as tattoos being excepted , things have came a long way. I work for a fire department in the phoenix valley erea in az. and there are a few of us that have complete sleeves. tattoos have became main stream when this is allowed. as long as they are not offensive.
4 Buzz // Mar 20, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I personally don’t think tattoos are as taboo as they once were. Now in days tats have gotten to popular with mainstream society. Case in point the dreaded “tramp stamp” you have all these strippers and porn stars getting. It’s pretty much gotten like a fashion statement, or the “cool” thing to do nowadays. IMO that sucks!
It used to be that only outlaw biker gangs, street gangs, and the Mafia had tats but not any more.
BTW I’ve been a sales manager for 12 years and I don’t give a shit what you like, but if you can sell! Just my 2 cents.
Buzz
5 Pyro // Jul 3, 2009 at 7:51 am
Tattoos have become alot less taboo, i have to agree, then again i have found it very easy where as getting a job is concerned granted i work as a tattooist/piercer but i have also worked as a male nurse (lay off the jokes) and in a special needs school in the UK, any employer should look past the ink and judge the employee on the bases of skill and merit.
(the tattoo’s i have cover both arms the side of my skull back of my skull and side burns.)
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6 pol // Nov 22, 2009 at 1:20 pm
As a us marine i have also encountered some dismisal of my tattoos, but when most peoople find out what my job is they change, recently i starrted to date a hot girl with legs that could act as a scarf, her father a pastor and judge , did not approve, untill she told him i was a decorated gun/sarg, and after he checked me out, his attitude changed, and he had a totally different approch towards me, and was happy to introduce me to those he held in high regard, short sleves and all, he later showed me tatts he had gotten long ago and far away.
I agree, becarefull where you get them, but “fuck!”, if you want one get it, my supers who made the desision to premote me, for good reasons, also have tatts, some of them are related to top knobs in the us gov.
Pol.
ps, pol is irish for paul, the dads from dublin, he is covered in tatts and hes a bigwig in a religous publishing group.
7 jd // Jan 10, 2010 at 6:54 am
screw anyone that has a problem my lawyer is sleeved to the wrist to the ankle and im half sleeved on both arms my back is completly covered and my calfs i wear shirts and shorts to work everyday
8 Steve-O // Apr 4, 2010 at 10:47 pm
those are some beautiful tattoos he’s got there. yeah, its good to get tattoos where they can be easily covered, but when they’re as sick as these who gives a fuck!
9 David // Feb 5, 2011 at 1:37 am
really, dont get anything that cant be covered up. most employers wont see things the way you do, and you have no idea if youll like your tattoo in 10 years. especially because 80% of your body IS easily covered up
10 brian // Aug 30, 2011 at 3:18 am
I recently got a pentacle done onthe right side of the neck.It looks cool n also it is a symbol with a deep religious meaning,i got it done 4 my reasons.Im a hindu but i read some articles that this symbol belongs to wiccans.I dont know,if i wud be looked down upon if i travel outside.In India,everbody’s really cool,n no1 cares if u ve one.I think i made a mistake by choosing the location,coz it can’t be covered up
11 SCREAMINGMIND2 // Sep 25, 2011 at 1:06 am
SO WHAT DOES THE 21st CENTURY have to do with anything ? You are not so much better than those that have lived before ? A COMPLETE ILLUSION ! Some things are ABSOLUTE and NEVER change .. a rat is still a rat; a disgusting stigma that represents low life, prison culture, ghetto-ness, and all other undesirable things in society –these will not change . . . despite today’s common delusions –having some class, dressing well, SPEAKING well, and exuding refinement is the desired end
-whoever told these tattooed people they look good ? And piercings,too ? Trying to imitate dregs, scum and prisoners seems futile and only adds to downgrading of society. YUK !!!!!
12 Bill // Jan 4, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I have my face tattooed and make 100k+ a year working for Union Pacific. Hopefully thats “successful” enough for you.
13 Kiki // Jan 29, 2012 at 9:26 pm
here’s my 2cents
tattoos: if you want it get it. be prepared to live with it.
my advice: if your gonna do it be smart about it.
i have 1 tat and 10 pirecings (3 on the face) and thinking about more. i did lots of research and put alot of thought into each and every one
all the tats i want all have a significant meaning to me so i wont regret them in 5 10 15 20 years even when im old and saggy i’ll still love them
As for jobs, well it all depends on your boss.
I worked at the campus bookstore part time and they didnt say a word about my tattoo or piercings, i went to work everyday with my tats and piercings.
now some jobs i interviewed for i could tell they were looking at my piercings and not gonna hire me but thats ok cuz its not my dream job so whatever i just needed to pay rent ya know? lol
either way you only live once so have fun, ultimately the decision is yours! just be smart about it
14 Meg // Feb 21, 2012 at 9:32 pm
I am a 28 year old mother of two. I work in a hospital where I strive every day to provide exceptional care to our patients and their loved ones. I live in an upper-middle class suburb where people drive BMWs and Lexus SUVs. I also have tattoos and piercings. (tattoos cover my upper back/shoulders, right foot, left ankle. Pierced ears twice in each lobed gauged to 8 and 10, tongue and rook.) I have chosen to keep all of my tattoos in places that I can easily cover if need be, but I wish the stigma would go away so I didn’t have to. All of my tattoos carry a deep significance to me, and I have plans for a half sleeve (top of my right arm) which will also be very significant. Almost all of my friends have tattoos, and almost all of them have college educations and professional jobs. Saying that the only people who have tattoos are criminals and whores is a little harsh, and it makes me wish that people could recognize the amazing artistic talent required to tattoo.
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