The Effects Of Tattoos And Body Piercings

Non-conformity is skin deep is an article by David Brooks of 27th August 2006, which argues that people fail to adopt the violations that are socially acceptable such as tattoos shallowly. Brooks notes that people’s nonconformity is superficial because they adopt to some transgressions only to look powerful but still remain unchanged inside. The writer made a positive observation through this work because many people have transformed to the socially acceptable violations in the society.

Deviant acts cannot be discussed without taking into account culture, perspective, and religion. Every culture is known for their types of expressions though tattooing, piercings, and body modification. Asian gangs such as the Yakuza are known for their full body tattoos, while African tribes can be associated with wearing rings that stretch their necks. Often, these types of tattooing and body modifications are seen as a sign of beauty or a sign of respect. In the United States, tattooing, piercings, and body modifications are becoming more acceptable, in moderation.

The rising popularity of tattoos and body piercing is more than just the latest fashion craze. This type of body art has been a part of this world for thousands of years. Tattoos and piercings have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Smithsonian.com). In the later years (1940 – 2000) tattoos and piercings were more common among teenagers and young adults, but now, people of all ages are expressing themselves through body art. To try and understand this rise in the desire to permanently mark ones self, we must first determine the origin and history of tattoos and piercings.

The article makes us think about the concept of self-expression. As the article indicates, there may be some hipsters who think tattoos have become a victim of consumerism that even a child can wear without any second thought. But also, there are people who enjoy the boom of this latest trend as one type of body art. However, self-expression includes not only expressing who they are but also expressing who they want to be or what they dream of. We have seen people gain confidence by owning luxury goods or feel sexy by wearing high-end clothes. Not all drivers of Hummers are big, strong, and powerful. There will be some people who lead trends, while others follow them. When Brooks says “tattoo-wearers will talk (and talk and talk and talk) about how their tattoos make them feel” but non-tattooed people can’t help but ask. Non-tattooed people have the curiosity to talk and talk and talk about tattoos. However, if self-expression is understood as portraying individual identity, differed from others, then wearing a tattoo as a fashion trend no longer becomes a unique identity.

In many day-to-day experiences people tend to view or prejudge people based on only how they are dressed or wear their hair. As a personal example, a friend knew someone covered with tattoos and piercings, he tended not to associate with him until he gained the curiosity to sit down and have a conversation. Afterwards, he learned that behind all of the tattoos and piercings he had an interesting

Body modifications have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years. But certain stigmas still persists to this contemporary day. One such body modification is the act of inking or marking the skin: Tattooing. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to diverse groups of people. But are the popular perceptions of tattoos out of synch with the true meaning behind them? This essay will explore the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body. It will also explore why tattoos engender

“Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around” said Henry David Thoreau. If you do not stand strong for your beliefs, you’ll fall for anything. After I get accepted into the Lewis and Clark Business program and getting my masters in business, I plan on going to The Skin Institute to achieve my Esthetician license. In the Cosmetology world, I have to test the waters, and stand out. There are a lot of people that believe that if a person has unnatural hair color, “odd” haircuts, or a lot tattoos or piercings, that they are automatically a bad person.

The tattoo is a very old form of body modification, but in spite of that there is still a certain rejection towards those who carry them in a visible area of the body, for some it disfigures what has been created in the image and likeness of God while for others associates this with convicts or gang members mainly because they were one of the first groups to use tattoos to differentiate themselves from the rest of society. But also it is true that there is a very limited understanding about this corporal modification that could be one of the reasons why it can not be appreciated as for how it should be. However, modern society reflects the current popularity of tattooing because it has acquired an entirely artistic meaning to a social expression and a way of identity.

What exactly is discrimination? Discrimination is defined as “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things” (Dictionary). It is illegal to base any final judgement on the fact of race, sex hair color, tattoos, piercings along with many other things. Many people in this day in age have at least one tattoo or piercing. I feel like it is this generation that has had the most in tattoos and piercings. The younger generation is the generation getting discriminated because they choose to express themselves through this type of art form. Every generation had their own way to express their feeling and ways to express themselves as individual human beings. My generation likes to put art on their skin so they can take it

There are many reasons for individuals to acquire body modifications. One possible reason for body modifications is to gain attention through displays of extravagance such as those that are found in people with histrionic disorder (Durand & Barlow, 2000). A study by Burger & Finkel (2002) investigated reasons why people adorn their bodies with tattoos and body piercing. They also researched unmodified participants’ perceptions of body art. When the researchers polled participant group as to their perceptions of body modifications, they found that many people associate tattoos and body piercing with risky behaviors and view them as symbols of drug abuse and violence (Burger & Finkel, 2002). They found that a main motivation for people to modify their bodies is to increase self-esteem. The people polled found body art as beautiful and felt more beautiful when they acquired it. A study conducted at Denison University by Lyons and Snyder (1996) described the reasons why college men and women had tattoos and body piercing. The main reason cited by the men with body modifications for getting tattooed or pierced was to identify themselves with a certain group. Women, however, rated their tattoos and piercing to make themselves more individualized or sexually appealing. Other popular reasons for displaying body modifications are to carry on cultural traditions and to increase

Your 18th birthday is one of the most important birthdays. You are finally of legal age to get a tattoo or a body piercing. The difficult question you now face is which one do you choose? You would love either, so the decision is mainly based on the expense, aftercare, permanence, and the pain of each. Both are great ways of self-expression but body piercing is an overall better idea.

Body modifications, with the focus of tattoos, have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years, yet certain dishonors still remain our modern day. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to endless diverse groups of people. But are the popular assumptions of tattoos out of sync with the true meaning behind them? Further explanation and exploration of the history will reveal the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body, in addition to providing answers as to why tattoos stimulate uneasiness

A persons’ image is vital when meeting someone for the first time. Our peers, employers, family, superiors, even strangers that you walk past can automatically judge someone, and imagine how they present themselves to the world. Tattoos have been predominantly linked with a rebellious attitude and pictured on out of control stereotypes such as rock starts, bikers, sailors, and disobedient teenagers who want nothing more than to hack off their parents. With a new coming of age generation and a step into a more lenient and liberal society these types of patrons still participate in body art but so do doctors, lawyers, or just the run of the mill house mom. Tattoos signify religious beliefs, cultural influence, or each individual’s sole

Tattoos are becoming a popular phenomenon that is seen everywhere. Today’s youth are getting permanent tattoos to be cool and trendy, but are not considering the long-term effects. Teenagers should be aware of all that body modification may include, it is not just a pretty picture. Adolescences must consider the dangers and conscientious result of attaining diseases, being underage, and having a permanent mark on their body.

Throughout time body piercings and tattoos have become a very common trend in today’s society. Body art including both piercings and tattoos have been around for many years, it used to be a way of communicating through each other but it has now become more of a fashion trend especially among today’s youth. Not only do tattoos and piercings have their own type of fashion but they can also represent many things such as religious traits. Many people ignore the dangers that can come along with tattoos and body piercings, things such as HIV and hepatitis are easily spread through the needles used for these forms of Body Art.