Final Thoughts: A Semester of Growth

I have made many discoveries during the course of this project, both about myself, those around me, and about my topic.  It was my intent to approach my issue form a purely intellectual point-of-view.  However, being that the subject is also an emotional one that I am very close to, I found remaining solely academic impossible.  I had a great deal of fun with the flexibility this project offered.  It allowed me to explore and display my topic from many directions.  I was forced to reevaluate my views in some areas, and found research to support my current views in others.

This project gave me the tools, and focus I need to learn how to maintain a blog.  Using social networking sites I have built up a small readership, and have received valuable feedback about my ideas and writing.  It is my intent to maintain, and expand this blog after the completion of this course.  I feel the casual nature of the blogging format makes some “hot-button” issues easier for readers to process; it also gives the writer a great venue for sharing thoughts and opinions.

I am very excited to further research my topic and share even more information with the world.  This assignment has enriched my life, and greatly improved my ability to share my ideas with others.  Being an obsessive researcher, I feel I have been given a fantastic outlet for my addiction!

Works Cited

Image. (2011, July 17). Rex parker does the ny times crossword. Retrieved December 07, 2011, from BlogSpot.com: http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com/2011/07/1994-denis-leary-kevin-spacey-flick-sun.html

Jailhouse Green: Prison Tattoos, Power, and Re-Integration

    

     What is of value in one community could have the opposite
effect elsewhere. Prison tattoos may be the most apt example of
this anthropological principle. Both while viewing photographs,
and seeing them in-person I have asked myself of prison
tattoos, “Why?” When viewed through our own cultural lens
such tattoos communicate hate, contempt, and defiance. Within
the prison and gang community however, they speak of power,
ownership, and solidarity. These tattoos identify a person as
a member of a specific group, tell tales of their feats, and warn
potential aggressors about the dangers of engaging the wearer.
    
     Tattooing in most communities is seen as a deviation from
the natural. It is one of humankind’s devices for demonstrating
power over nature, and transforming it into culture. With the
decrease in obligatory, forced tattooing of convicts during the 19th
century, there was a rise in voluntary tattooing among inmates.
Inmates use tattoos to assert agency and display group solidarity
and community. In an environment where personal possessions
are scarce, prisoners are able to claim ownership of their selves
and minds via their bodies, while simultaneously gaining respect
among their peers.

     In prison these tattoos empower the wearer, while in the
mainstream they can be very limiting to a person wishing to
change their lifestyle. People’s notions are difficult to change,
especially when deviancy is involved. Being the daughter of a
former alcoholic and current drug/alcohol counselor I have met
many shades of deviant in my life; addicts of all sorts, and quite a
few criminals. One thing I have learned about these people, as
I have been witness to the outpourings of their heart, is that they
are not always what their skin paints them to be.

     Some of them adapted to a situation to survive and now bear
the markings. Some of them are so far removed from society that
there is little hope of them ever returning. Permanent deviance
is the exception, and it by no means warrants persecuting those
who are striving for genuine change. Though they at one point
removed themselves from society at large, it is unfair to refuse
them the opportunity to return simply because we can see their
past written on their skin. What once served as their symbol of
power now weakens them, and it is our duty to offer a hand to the
weak.


     Works Cited
    
     McCarron, K. (2008). Skin and self-indictment: prison tattoos, race, and
heroin addiction. ESC, 85-102.Mesquita, A. (2010, December 28).
 
     American prison tattoos. Retrieved December 06, 2011, from ZERO6
arte/desordem: http://zero6artedesordem.blogspot.com/2010/12/
american-prison-tattoos.html.

Emily Post Get's a Tattoo

(Tatau, n.d.)

Always remember, a proper lady tips her tattooist twenty percent!

        I see it every time I am sitting for a tattoo.  Somebody walks into my artist’s station and wants to know what time he can get tattooed today.  Davy tells them coolly that they can make an appointment up front with the receptionist.  This is inevitably followed with confusion as to why they cannot get their tattoo today.  I made my appointment a month ago; Davy is likely to tattoo 3-4 people after me ending up with a 9-12 hour work day.  Don’t get me wrong, most shops do have walk-in slots available, but to walk in and expect to have your pick of artist, and have them drop everything and work on your piece is just rude.  The business doesn’t work that way.  Sadly, many rules governing proper behavior while getting tattooed get disregarded.

Ask any tattooist, they can rattle off examples of discourteous clients from every workday of their week.  Most tattoo etiquette is common sense: be on time, don’t show up to your appointment drunk, and practice good personal hygiene.  However, whether it’s due to ignorance or a perception that people with tattoos don’t care about manners, these rules are ignored.  Lest you approach your big day uneducated we will go over some basics!  Also, always remember, if you are unsure about something just ask your artist.  These rules are general and in no way representative of every shop you will visit. 

Like any other business in or segment of our society tattoo parlors operate under specific rules of etiquette and decorum.  Many first time clients may unwittingly violate these rules, therefore it is advised that one educate themselves before shopping for an artist.  One should always be respectful and sober when visiting a shop (Stewart, 2011).  Get to know the artist before getting your tattoo, and know what you want to get (Genzlinger, 2011).  Children should not be present during the tattooing process (EPI, 2010).  Respect the shop’s pricing policies, and do not haggle (EPI, 2010)!  On the day of your appointment: eat before you arrive, don’t bring an entourage, arrive on time, take a shower, wear appropriate clothing, don’t talk on your cell phone while the artist works, and don’t ask to play your own music (EPI, 2010).

When you visit a tattoo shop 9 times out of 10 it is a privately owned establishment, the owner works there, and the employees all consider themselves part of a family.  In a situation such as this it is doubly important to be respectful; not to mention you are conversing with a person that may be putting a piece of art on your body that will be there forever, so be nice.  Establishing a relationship with a shop and artist is important if you want to work on a large piece, or several small pieces that will comprise a sleeve.  In regards to alcohol, save it for after the appointment; drunken people are clumsy, have a hard time sitting still, and it is illegal for your artist to work on you if you’ve been drinking.

Knowing what you want is the all important first step to getting a tattoo.  It is not the artist’s job to decide what you should get.  If you don’t know what you want, then you should wait until you do.  Most tattooists moan when they have to tattoo from flash (a piece of art picked from the parlor wall); they are artists after all, and enjoy doing original pieces that offer a challenge.  Bring reference art to your chosen artist and delight in the process of developing your idea into a piece that will be only yours.  Once your art is drawn up DO NO HAGGLE OVER THE PRICE.  A good artist is worth what they quote, and in the realm of tattoos you do get what you pay for.  To quibble over cost is to imply that the artist is not worth what they are asking.

The day has finally arrived, so now what?  First of all, take a shower!  Nobody wants to sit in close proximity with somebody sweaty from the gym, and your artist is no exception.  You are going to sweat more due to nerves and adrenalin so a shower and deodorant are imperative.  Don’t bring all of your closest friends with you.  Work stations tend to be small with limited seating, so bring one person if you need to, otherwise go solo.  Dressing appropriately to get a tattoo sounds strange so let me explain.  You are going to be sitting/laying in a potentially uncomfortable position for up to several hours so, dress for comfort not to impress.  Ensure that the area to be tattooed is easily accessible, and that the artist will not have to work around any straps.

Adhering to these simple rules of etiquette will help ensure your experience is fruitful, and that your artist will want to work with you again.  A tattoo is forever, and your relationship with your artist is potentially a long one.  In closing, remember that America is a tipping society.  You tip your hair dresser, your pizza delivery person, and your server at a restaurant, your tattoo artist gets a tip too.  Twenty percent is considered polite, but feel free to express you opinion of the work with a higher (or lower) tip.  A polite society if a happy society, so be polite and reap the benefits!

Works Cited

EPI. (2010, October 22). Etiquette is everywhere: tattoo shop etiquette from kat vond d. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Emily Post's Etiquette Daily: http://www.etiquettedaily.com/2010/10/etiquette-is-everywhere-tattoo-shop-etiquette-from-kat-von-d/

Genzlinger, N. (2011, January 11). The New York Times. Please don't swat the bug tattoo, p. MB4.

Stewart, J. (2011). Tattoos/Body Piercing. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from About.com: http://video.about.com/tattoo/Tattoo-Courtesy-and-Etiquette.htm

Tatau. (n.d.). HubPages. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Sexy Victorian Tattoos: http://tatau.hubpages.com/slide/Victorian-Tattoos/1295340

The Power of Scars: Tattooing and Mastectomy Scars

Unable to have nipple reconstruction, this woman’s tattoo covers the entire reconstructed breast.  Floral and organic subjects work best for scar cover-up (Kakoulas, 2010).

An example of a full chest mural on a woman without reconstruction (Quigley, 2009).

        

I have chanced upon some remarkably resilient and enduring women in my life; they have suffered much but always manage to “man up,” and carry their burden with dignity and composure.  Through sickness, repeated painful treatments, and surgeries they have fought and thrive.  One such woman, Sharon, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32; one week later she was on the operating table for her first modified radical mastectomy, the removal of the entire breast and the lymphatic-bearing tissue in the armpit.  Sharon then underwent reconstruction, and radiation therapy.  This year she had to have her other breast removed and reconstructed.  Sharon has had her left nipple remodeled, but has not opted for the pigment tattooing.  She laughs and shows a sense of amusement when stating that the only tattoos she has were put on her as targets for her radiation therapy (S. Rees, personal communication, October 9, 2011).

Women’s feelings about their bodies after mastectomy are as diverse as the women themselves.  Sharon refused to let her new form affect her outlook on life or shake her confidence.  She defends herself from her scars with boldness and humor.  Other women are unable to dispose the power of their scars; to them they are a daily reminder of their suffering and loss.  In a society that sexualizes and eroticizes breasts, some women feel that their loss embodies the forfeiture of their femininity itself.  Certain women are either unwilling or unable to undergo reconstruction and are left with a flat field of a chest, or one that is deeply scared and malformed.  Increasingly, these women are turning to tattooing as a form of therapy and healing.  They are using art to divest their scars of power and taking their bodies back.

The loss of one’s breasts can deeply affect one’s body image, even after reconstruction.  Post-mastectomy, many women suffer from feelings of lost femininity, and issues with sexuality.  Some of these women are using tattooing to turn their scars into art, rich with symbolism of survival and regrowth.  Most women who get mastectomy tattoos never thought they would get tattoos, though some return later for work that is unrelated to their scars (Karras, 2011).  Kim Leach, of Phoenix Rising Tattoo in New York, works one Friday a month tattooing pigment on the reconstructed breasts of cancer patients.  Some of these patients later end up in her shop to cover scars left from by their surgeries (Gramza, 2010).  For the women who choose tattooing, a thing of embarrassment and pain is transformed into something beautiful that they want to share with others.

One woman who, due to serious complications, was left with no breasts and a severely scarred chest contracted Leach to create a mural of personal and healing symbols that covered her chest (Gramza, 2010).  This piece took a year to complete; the end result was something empowering that the woman will carry with her until she dies.  Tattooing scar tissue can be problematic; therefore it is important to choose an artist, like Leach, who has a keen understanding of what is involved.  The ink tends to blur, and fine straight lines are nearly impossible.  Twisting, flowing designs from nature tend to work well, as they can be manipulated to trace the line of the scar easily.  They also work well to draw the eye’s attention away from the scar.

Nobody can deny the therapeutic nature of art, and those of us with tattoos can certainly attest to the salutary affect tattoos can have on a person’s psyche.  Whether women who have undergone a mastectomy choose to have pigment restored, or opt for a scar cover-up, these tattoos are helping women to feel whole and powerful after a traumatic ordeal.  For those who are left with no breasts, just a pitch of scars, tattooing can help in the recuperation of identity, and womanhood.  Some people, like Sharon, seem to contain an indomitable spirit and pride, and need no physical help in maintaining themselves.  Others require visual markers to help their mind’s cope with suffering and an upset in identity.  One is neither better nor stronger than the other, it’s about recognizing what is needed to help oneself move on and live life.  Tattoos, much like scars, mark the road we have traveled.  We carry them to the end, and they remind us where we have been.  Most of us don’t get to choose our scars; but a tattoo is something that is truly yours, put on your body of your own volition, and therefore empowering.

Works Cited

Gramza, J. (2010, November 7). Tattoo artist helps breast cancer patients reclaim their identity. The Post-Standard.

Kakoulas, M. (2010, October 14). Beautiful mastectomy scar tattoo. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from needlesandsins.com: http://www.needlesandsins.com/2010/10/mastectomy-scar-tattoo.html.

Karras, C. (2011, August 6). First you cry...when mastectomy scars are transformed by tattoos. The Seatle Times.

Quigley, C. (2009, April 27). Mastectomy Tattoos. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from Quigley's Cabinet: http://quigleyscabinet.blogspot.com/2009/04/mastectomy-tattoos.html.

A Tale of Two Tattooed Women: Tattoos in the Workplace

I am one of those fortunate persons who work for a company with a fairly laidback dress-code policy.  As long as my garments are in good repair, I am well turned-out, and have bathed at least once in the past 48 hours good ole’ Captain Dan is happy to see me.  I and many of my fellow crew members, as well as a few on the management team, have visible tattoos.  Our store is located in a conservative community, though our company is known for being a little eccentric, so our overwhelmingly elderly clientele don’t make much fuss about our art.  Surprisingly enough, my customers seemed to take more objection to my dread locks than they ever have to my tattoos.  One diminutive, timeworn lady even asked if I had corn husks woven into my hair.

My experiences as a tattooed person in the workplace have been, insofar, positive.  I have never been denied a task or position, and I have never been asked to cover myself up.  My work has always been in retail, with face-to-face contact with the public, vendors, and representatives from various industries.  I conduct myself in a respectful manner and field questions about my tattoos demurely and with humor.  Regrettably, not all employers are as open minded as Trader Joe’s.  Many companies forbid tattoos even if their employees have no contact with the public.  Federal anti-discrimination laws do not protect tattoos (Norman, 2005), so it is up to employers to develop a policy that suits their needs, not their personal feelings, when it comes to body art.

Melena is in an employment predicament all too common among tattooed persons.  She was hired by the Accounts Payable department, of a company we shall call Berguson, in 2008.  The company’s tattoo policy states that they need to be “minimized” to the best of the wearer’s ability.  Melena sits in a cubicle for her eight hour work day, and only communicates with those outside of her department via phone, and email.  In 2009 a new administrator took over Melena’s department, and established her own dress-code policy for the department.  Though the company’s official policy has never changed, Melena must now wear a button up cardigan, dark tights, and her hair down at all times.  Because Melena and only one other woman seem to be the targets of this new policy (it is not enforced upon those with smaller visible tattoos), she is fearful daily.  She avoids her supervisor, and is terrified anytime she is called into the office that she will be written up or fired (M. Rucero, personal communication, September 22, 2011).[1]

Every employer and field has a unique attitude on tattoos in the place of work.  According to the OC Register, a person’s tattoos my affect their employability in specific fields; therefore, tattooed employees should elect for the conservative side to ensure success in the workplace.  Employers should adopt a dress code that is uniformly enforced.  Jobs in the public and financial sector may be closed to those with visible tattoos.  Certain industries such as: entertainment, the arts, and sports, are more accepting and tolerant of tattoos.  Tattoos that cannot be covered (face, neck, and hand tattoos) can severely limit one’s employment opportunities, even in more lenient businesses (Norman, 2008).

It is a reality, in our culture, that if you tattoo yourself you are limiting where you can go, and how far you can rise in the area of employment.  However, these boundaries are everyday being pushed further and further.  With one in 10 Americans having tattoos, versus one in 100 thirty years ago, employers are becoming more accommodating of tattoos (Norman, 2008).  With that being said, tattoos are a choice.  When one choses to get tattooed they are indirectly making a choice about the fields they will work in in the future. 

I made my choice early.  I knew by the age of 15 that I was not cut out for a desk job, nor for hustling sales; so my first tattoo was in place by the age of 19.  I do not intend to stay in retail forever, but have chosen a line of education that will lead me to a field where my tattoos will not be an issue.  I have also chosen to place my tattoos so that they may be covered if the need ever arises.  This allows me to move in circles that may otherwise be closed to me.  The younger Rachel would have called me a conformist, but I know that this has been a wise decision.  I doubt I would have been well received at my friend’s Muslim funeral will tattoos on my neck or face.

As Melena was tattooed at the time she was hired, and performed her job without incident until a change in policy, it can be said that she is a victim of an unjust and prejudiced manager.  Melena did chose to get tattooed as much as I did, and the burden of that decision now lay before her.  Her manager’s perception of tattooed people, unfair as it may be, has led him/her to make a decision based on opinion rather than fact.  Whether Melena stands up, or keeps her head low will be for her to decide.  Melena is also perusing an education and I have no doubt that she will find a professional environment that accepts her for her many talents, rather than persecute her for her body art.

In closing let me address two different groups of people.

Employers: You are not obligated by law to adopt an inclusive policy toward tattoos.  You are however, selling your company short by eliminating candidates for employment based on appearance.  With the increasing regularity of tattoos in our  society you are best served by working for compromise, and making an honest assessment as to whether tattoos really affect the job your people do.

Employees: Your employer does have the right to make you cover your tattoos, but only if this policy is uniformly enforced.  Also, recognize that your tattoos will limit you, so make good decisions about what you get and where.

 Norman, J. (2005, June, 18). A piercing question in the workplace: to tattoo or not to tattoo.  The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 13, 2011.  Newspaper Source Plus.

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[1] Name has been changed to protect interviewee.

Do Tattoos Affect People’s opinions of one another?

Angel or Succubus?

This woman’s tattoo represents purity and honesty,

but what does it really make you think of her?

(Angel, n.d.)

“Never judge a book by its cover”, “Things aren’t always what they seem”, “Appearances can be deceiving,” these are all phrases that most mothers have told their children at some point; mine said them to me quite regularly.  In an ideal world none of us judge each other based on appearance, and first impressions are passing and easily reversed.  The sad reality is that we do judge each other based on what we see, and create associations based on opinion.  Consequently, we create a first impression before the person we are interacting with has a chance to act.

My tattoos cause me a lot of problems with men.  Virtually every day at work, school, even at the park with my daughter I deal with lascivious looks and comments.  I do not dress in a provocative nature, maybe a little unconventional, but my crazy goth/punk rock days are far behind me.  I have become expert at deflecting and ignoring unwelcome advances.  Here’s how it plays out:

Rachel.  Stocking shelves at Trader Joe’s.  Male stranger approaches.

Stranger: Excuse me, where are the dark chocolate covered raspberry wafer cakes?

Rachel turns.  Stranger steps in closer.

Rachel: Right over here, sir.  I will walk you to them.

Rachel walks Stranger to product, and hands product to Stranger.

Stranger: Thank you.  Nice tatts.  How many do you have?

Stranger touches Rachel’s arm, stroking a tattoo.  Rachel steps back.

Rachel: Thank you, I have several.  Excuse me, I am needed at the register.

Rachel quickly walks away.

This scene or a variation thereof, occurs every day.  Firstly, let me make something clear.  People with tattoos do not say, “Nice tatts.”  As a rule we do not even use the word “tatts.”  It is considered somewhat garish, and uncouth.  “Nice tatts” is generally used by people without tattoos to start a conversation with a tattooed person.  This is fine, unless you are using it as a conversation starter to hit on a married woman. 

It is obvious that strangers are making assumptions about what I find acceptable based on my appearance.  But, what are they assuming?  Some (too many in my opinion) find it suitable to touch me, frequently without even talking to me first.  I wear a wedding ring, yet they persist even after I bring my hand to my face where they can no doubt see it.  What lies are my tattoos telling people?

Controlled studies show that tattoos affect people’s opinions of one another. Tattooed persons are perceived as engaging in more risky and promiscuous behavior than non-tattooed persons.  Tattoos create a perception of an association with certain subcultures and rebellious behavior.  Tattooed persons are viewed as less inhibited, and as voracious seekers of excitement and pleasure.  Tattoos are commonly associated with uninhibited sexual behavior and undesirable characteristics (Wohlrab, et. al., 2009).  

So, my tattoos are triggering these associations and thus influencing people’s behavior towards me.  It is assumed that I do not adhere to social norms and may be sexually promiscuous, therefore it is acceptable to touch me in an intimate fashion uninvited.  Tattoos are also associated will lower intelligence in (Wohlrab, et. al., 2009).  Thankfully I have been able to combat this assumption by being well spoken and polite.

To a certain extent the behaviors associated with tattoos are accurate, though not universal.  I, and most of my tattooed friends, do seek out new experiences and “risky” activities; we are “sensation seekers” (Wohlrab, et. al., 2009). We are, most of us, however in long term, monogamous relationships.  I have known many people who engage in risky sexual practices, and have multiple partners; though I can’t say that a disproportionate amount of them were tattooed.

Tattoos do act as indicators of certain things about people, but only if you are educated about tattooing in general.  A few things I have been able to tell about a person based on their tattoos are: if they have been in prison, their theological beliefs, if they are from the East coast or West, what subculture they identify with, and what kind of music they like.  Unless a person has a tattoo of a very specific nature their tattoos will not tell you: their sexual preferences or habits, nor if the frequently engage in risky and undesirable activities. 

It is always important to remember that tattoos tell a story of a person’s past.  Even if a person’s tattoos tell me they have been incarcerated, I make no assumptions about who they are now.  To truly know a person, you should let their action speak for them, not their outward appearance.  My mom taught me that, and I try to live by it every day.

Wohlrab,S., et. al. (2009). Differences in personality attributions toward tattooed and nontattooed virtual human characters.  Journal of Individual Differences,  Retrieved September 13, 2011.  PsychARTICLES.

Angel Tattoo Image. (n.d.) Tattoo on Tattoo. Retrieved September 18, 2011.  http://tattoontattoo.com/tattoos/angel-tattoo/

An Introduction First

Lefty's Tattoo in Orange, CA

Where I got my first tattoo.

         The purpose of Nice Tatts is to explore cultural views of tattooing in America today.  Everybody has an opinion on tattoos: from my 89 year old grandmother who has no tattoos, to my three year old daughter who is already telling me what tattoos she wants to get.  Even my own opinion on tattooing continues to evolve.

          I got my first tattoo half way through my 18^th year.  The art was pulled from my favorite tarot deck, and took three and a half hours to complete.  I felt more myself after getting it, as I do after each subsequent tattoo.  I have since had that first tattoo re-touched, re-worked, and of course added to its size.  It has grown with me, and developed as I have.

          People’s opinions of tattoos are important to me, because, as a tattooed person, these views affect their initial impression of me.  I will address positive and negative outlooks of tattooing, and how these opinions influence the treatment of the tattooed person in day to day activities.  I will explore the question: Does tattooing have any bearing on employability?  Personal interviews will supplement research found on the internet, and serve as a snapshot of opinion in my geographic area.

          I hope that you enjoy reading Nice Tatts, and that what you learn may leave you with a positive impression of what tattooing means today!

Hude's Tarot

The inspiration for my first tattoo.