How Do Tattoos Influence Body Art

The Blackness of Ink “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” - Thomas Merton Tattoos have been around for a long time and are used in different groups for different purposes. Tattoos originated in small cultural tribes and religious groups. This type of body art has been linked to being used as a source of identity for cultural groups, religious beliefs, and express personal and family pride. Tattoos have also been used in certain periods of war. Through the use of these body modification practices, it was a way for individuals to express themselves about the war. Although tattoos have historical associations with cultures, military forces, and religion over the decades, it has lost its true meaning. …show more content…
Tattoos have become affiliated with different groups. They have generated over several years in smaller groups such as in motorcycle gangs, prisons, political protesters, and working class men. These are being symbolized as outcasts and low social status groups. In the article by Lucille M. Ponte and Jennifer L. Gillian, both indicate, “As a sign of resistance, many prisoners remade the tattoos into their own designs, thereby reclaiming individual control over punitive marking of their body. The popularity of tattoos still remains amongst prisoners today who voluntarily brand themselves to indicate gang affiliations or signify their contempt for the prison experience,” (Ponte and Gillian 328-329). Many do body modification practices to affiliate individual’s in a group that is limited in doing certain things. In this statement, it indicates that becoming a member of a gang now someone has control over them making this oppression. Usually in these types of groups once and a person wants to get out, it is hard as many get killed or must face hard punishments. It is not easy or safe once becoming a member of a gang as they hold the person’s and their family 's safety. With these types of tattoos, it can cause friction between individuals, a reason why tattoos should be covered in the working field as an unexpected situation can occur. If an employee is covered in tattoos …show more content…
Some employers do not allow body art to be shown and have created restrictive body art work rules. Some employees feel as they are being discriminated and are being punished or judged based on their appearance and not their job performance, which has brought discrimination cases to the federal and state laws. However, courts are in favor with employers who have policies on limiting tattoos if they do not base it on gender, race, and religion. All employers are trying to do is take care of their company and not have a bad reputation from customers. Employees are known to be the representatives of the company. In the article “Employers May Regulate Body Art on Their Employees” by Louis Pechman who stated the following, “The company was concerned that customers who saw Connor 's tattoo would have a negative reaction because a tattoo on a women ‘symbolized that she was either a prostitute, on drugs, or from a broken home’,” (Pechman). Many may argue that employers are not being open minded with their self-expression through body art. Many have sued companies however, as mention here the company is just concerned about the reactions customers might have. Companies are not being racist or discriminating they are just trying to keep their business from having a bad image. If it requires them to form policies, they have all their rights to do so as it is their