'Tatted' Up
Report shows body art becoming more accepted in work environment
by Leah Square
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Special Section
Originally published: 4/27/07 at 1:05 PM MST
Last update: 4/29/07 at 8:58 PM MST
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Hearts, roses, skulls and "Mom."
Twenty years ago, tattoos would have only been seen on the biceps of bikers, sailors and inmates, but as tattoos become more mainstream, they are popping up in the workplace too.
Marvin Rod, tattoo artist at The Tattoo Clinic on Government Street, has been inking clients for more than 13 years. Rod said he has seen an influx of doctors, nurses, lawyers, other business professionals and "soccer moms" getting tattoos during the past several years. He said he recently serviced Dow businessmen.
"People who you wouldn't think would get tattoos are getting them," Rod said. "I've been seeing that for the past eight or nine years."
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According to a study published in 2006 on the American Academy of Dermatology's Web site, almost one in four Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 has one or more tattoos.
Tattoo policies vary from workplace to workplace, but they have become relaxed overall, according to a CBS report in January.
John Litchfield, senior partner at the New Orleans law firm Berrigan, Litchfield, Schonekas, Mann & Traina, L.L.C., said his firm has no formal tattoo policy.
"If we had to make policy, it would be something along the lines of 'nothing offensive,'" Litchfield said. "If somebody came in with a German swastika, that would be a problem - or 'I hate President Bush,' 'I hate Jesus' or 'I hate Mahatma Gandhi.'"
Litchfield said he thinks because tattoos have become mainstream - even in the workplace - "people don't even notice them."
"Plus I have a lot more things to think about than how somebody paints their body," he said.
Anita Day, mass communication adjunct instructor, said she got a tattoo on her upper-right back a few years ago to replace a Theta symbol, which was a tattoo suggested by her deceased mother.
Now, Day's back bears a green and yellow slithering salamander, which peeks out when she wears sleeveless shirts or dresses in the classroom.
Twenty years ago, tattoos would have only been seen on the biceps of bikers, sailors and inmates, but as tattoos become more mainstream, they are popping up in the workplace too.
Marvin Rod, tattoo artist at The Tattoo Clinic on Government Street, has been inking clients for more than 13 years. Rod said he has seen an influx of doctors, nurses, lawyers, other business professionals and "soccer moms" getting tattoos during the past several years. He said he recently serviced Dow businessmen.
"People who you wouldn't think would get tattoos are getting them," Rod said. "I've been seeing that for the past eight or nine years."
Click to read more special section stories
According to a study published in 2006 on the American Academy of Dermatology's Web site, almost one in four Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 has one or more tattoos.
Tattoo policies vary from workplace to workplace, but they have become relaxed overall, according to a CBS report in January.
John Litchfield, senior partner at the New Orleans law firm Berrigan, Litchfield, Schonekas, Mann & Traina, L.L.C., said his firm has no formal tattoo policy.
"If we had to make policy, it would be something along the lines of 'nothing offensive,'" Litchfield said. "If somebody came in with a German swastika, that would be a problem - or 'I hate President Bush,' 'I hate Jesus' or 'I hate Mahatma Gandhi.'"
Litchfield said he thinks because tattoos have become mainstream - even in the workplace - "people don't even notice them."
"Plus I have a lot more things to think about than how somebody paints their body," he said.
Anita Day, mass communication adjunct instructor, said she got a tattoo on her upper-right back a few years ago to replace a Theta symbol, which was a tattoo suggested by her deceased mother.
Now, Day's back bears a green and yellow slithering salamander, which peeks out when she wears sleeveless shirts or dresses in the classroom.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
schar!
posted 5/02/07 @ 9:46 AM EST
i think it's very nice to see that people are doing what they have the right to do...be free!
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