I got my first tattoo the day after I turned 18. I had known that I wanted one since I was 10, so the first chance I got to book my appointment, I was on it. It was a simple tattoo, a bouquet of flowers, and the spot wasn’t too visible, but it still felt like a huge step into adulthood for me. In my eyes, body modification is one of the most mature decisions you can make about your body and getting to make that choice without the guise of my parents felt liberating.
A little voice in the back of my head, however, kept telling me that it was going to limit me exponentially. Sure, tattoos are expensive and the process of getting them is limiting monetarily speaking, but it also limits many people from a professional standpoint.
It’s often said that having visible tattoos and piercings makes you less desirable as a new hire to a business, especially in an office setting. According to a study completely by Colorado State University, many job applicants with tattoos, especially bigger and more aggressive tattoos are less likely to be hired for a position when competing against someone without tattoos, regardless of skill. Those with tattoos are also offered lower salaries on average and are often rated lower on workplace competence compared to those without tattoos. Many places would not even dream of hiring an employee with multiple ear piercings, tattoos on their arms, or a nose piercing. Many places would not even hire an applicant if they had unnaturally colored hair.
My family was never one to limit how I expressed myself through my appearance. I first dyed my hair at the age of 6, I had bleached hair by the time I was 10, and every time I had it done, my mom would do it for me. My mom even booked my nose piercing appointment when I was 16 as a surprise, fully paying for it and helping me take care of it. Now that I spend my own money on these alterations, they support me with every piercing and tattoo I get. My dad even went with me to my first tattoo appointment, helping me pick the placement.
I believe that the mindset that bodily alterations limits professionalism comes from a traditional state of mind taught to us by parents, grandparents, and other elders. Since tattoos, bright hair, and piercings are not normal, many people with traditional mindsets believe that these are signs of rebellion and social rejection.
Some people with bodily modifications are discriminated against in the workplace is because of the stereotypes that surround those in the punk and metal community. While not all people with piercings and tattoos are part of these communities, many people are lumped into this category when they have visible modifications.
Those with tattoos and piercings can also come off as less friendly and “scary” to some customers and may be less likely to get hired in guest-facing positions. Some companies don’t want certain images associating with a customer’s experience at a place of work, and many companies believe that those with tattoos or piercings will make a workplace come off as less serious or friendly if they are met with an employee with bodily modifications compared to an employee without them.
Therefore, when I began my journey, I decided to start with less visible tattoos until I get a job, but I still have to take into account that even when I do begin getting more visible alterations, I still may be able to lose my job or find it harder to get promotions with more tattoos. It is an unfortunate thing to keep in mind, but ultimately, my happiness with my appearance is more important to me than someone else’s, and that thought alone should make me more desirable as a hire than many other people.
