I recently stumbled upon a website called www.InkedInc.com, and found it rather interesting (mainly because I can relate to it!). It features professionals (doctors, lawyers, publicists, etc..) that are heavily tattooed. Now, I have some tattoos, but I am by no means “heavily” tattooed (in my opinion). Most of the people featured have full sleeves, full back pieces, things of that nature.  I don’t have too hard of a time covering them up for work, as I work in a “professional environment” and tattoos are often found inappropriate, or distracting. However, I do have one on the back of my leg that shows often in the summer (wearing skirts, capris, etc..), and one on my shoulder that sometimes pops out of short sleeved shirts, but other than that, nothing really noticeable in my work clothes. I mean, lots of people try to be cool, and get all tattooed at a young age, which is fine, people can do whatever the hell they want, but do they have a harder time finding good jobs? An article from CNN.com speaks about the subject: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/06/19/too.tattooed.to.work/

Are jobs not keeping up with the times? One in three adults between 18-25 years of age have at least one tattoo. Does that make them any less qualified for a job than someone without any tattoos? I strongly disagree. Inkedinc.com is a prime example that just because you have a lot of tattoos, doesn’t mean you aren’t qualified for a well-paying job. These individuals went through law school, medical school, have Master’s degrees AND tons of tattoos. I mean, come on! To me, a tattoo/piercing is like wearing a piece of (with tattoos… permanent) jewelry. Should I not get hired because the interview doesn’t like my necklace? Or what if he or she hated the color of my shirt? Does that make me unqualified for the position?  If anything, a tattoo shows that someone is capable of making decisions (more than our current President has done in his past…), a commitment, or maybe they’re outgoing or passionate about something. Tattoos could mean a lot of things, and I think that the stigma that surrounds them is fading more and more (used to mainly be associate with convicts, sailors, etc..), so why aren’t jobs adjusting? I have to admit that the job world is probably more leanient than it used to be, but I still don’t think it’s keeping pace like it should.

CNN’s article reports that 8% of tattooed people report trouble at work, ranging from having trouble covering them up, to being limited to certain tasks. For example, an outside sales person who has to go meet face-to-face with clients will probably have a more strict no tattoos policy, than someone who is in the office all day at a desk. Or even non-corporate jobs like a grocery store clerk- someone with exposed tattoos may be stuck doing stock jobs only, instead of working the register where customers would see their tattoos. But why? WHY? If I have a tattoo on my arm, it doesn’t make it more or less difficult for me to type, read, write, think or talk (a.k.a. it doesn’t effect my job skills!). The article also mentions a “Don’t ask-Don’t tell” way of thinking for those tattooed workers trying to get a job. If you just cover them up, they may never know they are they so they can’t get mad about them [the employer], but really, that still makes me angry. Why should we have to hide them? What’s next? A “Courier-Journal Uniform”? Will they issue me clothes I’m allowed to wear so that I’m not a “distraction” to others? Pfft. Let’s all hope that over the years, things will change.

Inkedinc.com

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