Tattoos Tarnish Reputations

Throughout the history of America, discrimination has been a major part of the news and people’s everyday lives. Whether it be race, age, weight, or anything else, discrimination has been ever present.

It’s only recently that discrimination of tattoos has become a major topic of conversation.

It’s not just in America that this discrimination is happening though. It’s a worldwide problem.

A short time ago, a nightclub banned men with uncovered, tattooed arms from entering the club, generating a lot of anger, according to Highland News (highland-news.co.uk).

In North Korea, the government is financing the removal of tattoos for their people, according to RFA (rfa.org). The government believes that tattoos worsen the discrimination against them, largely in part because South Korea looks down on tattoos. Tattoos are widely popular there, especially with Korean soldiers, and the surgeries can be more than $320 in U.S currency.

An apartment building in San Antonio has started rejecting “prospective tenants who have tattoos Exposed on the neck head, hands, and wrists,” states the website Jonathan Turley (jonathanturley.org). The ban also includes tattoos that cover over 40% of the lower or upper arm.

Strangely enough, this act doesn’t constitute as a violation to the federal housing rules. It doesn’t even violate the constitution. Discrimination is only counted when it is against race, religion, or gender, according to (www.jontahanturley.com).

Tattoos are also affecting the work place. Jared Preslar, owner of Lucky Bamboo Tattoo in Salt Lake City, talks about what he’s heard in his shop.

“I do have many clients that say it affects their job selection or bosses saying they can’t get tattooed,” Preslar said.

Preslar has his own methods of dealing with the discrimination though. He said that he doesn’t care what other people think of him and his tattoos, which “virtually eliminates any negative experiences.” He also says that despite the discrimination, tattoos have become a part of American culture.

The government is great to worry about the discrimination of the people.

But is there really a reason for this discrimination?

People are able to dress in what is known as normal clothes.“Other than my tattoos, I dress very nicely and look very normal with full sleeves,” Preslar says.

This may just be the case with most people. Just because someone has a tattoo doesn’t mean they are automatically a gangster or a bad person.

Being open-minded isn’t a bad thing, and being open-minded about tattoos may just lead to a discovery that tattoos are really a beautiful piece of art.