Tattoo Perceptions

Simply getting a tattoo will put you at odds with a lot of your friends and family members. Many will quite openly state a lot of very negative things about a person who has a tattoo. The more tattoos you have, the more negative are those comments. But is there any real justification behind these feelings?

There is a real correlation in many people’s minds between tattoos and violence. Although generally misguided it is possibly understandable given the history of so many tattoo individuals. Although a lot of violent people, gang members, and ex-prisoners have tattoos it doesn't mean tattooed people are violent proportionally. A person with no tattoos at all could punch someone with several tattoos. In fact, in today's world, unlike 20 to 100 years ago, a lot of people with tattoos are very much against violence.

Then there's the argument about the "Tramp Stamp". The  theory – mostly spread by men – is that women with a tattoo on the small of their back are sexually promiscuous. The theory goes like this: If they are willing to draw attention to that area of your body then, obviously, you must want the area to be explored more closely.

The only answer to this theory is to recommend those who believe it to say so directly to a woman with type of tattoo. I'd like to see somone tell my daughter that once they pick themselves up off the floor they better just count their bruises and then think twice next time!

Having a few tattoos, or even a body covered with them, doesn't make you anymore stupid, violent or promiscuous – any more than wearing a sombrero makes you a Mexican. To put it simply, you can have a tattoo and be whatever you want to be. Labeling is just not cool in today's world.