Whenever I walk down the street, I can't help but notice how many people on campus have tattoos somewhere on their body. It seems like either society is beginning to accept them more, or the people getting them are not as worried about them being seen as they have been in the past.
It used to be that if you had a tattoo, it was harder for you to get a good job; people with ink were urged to cover up before interviews and remove excess piercings, but now with the growing number of college students with tattoos, employers are becoming more lenient about hiring people with visible ink.
According to a Pew Research study in 2006, 36 percent of 18 to 25 year olds have at least one tattoo, 30 percent of people asked had a piercing in an area other than the ear lobe and 25 percent said they had dyed their hair an unconventional color — i.e. pink, neon green, orange. I suppose that the growing popularity has something to do with TV shows such as Miami Ink and LA Ink. Add to that the countless tattoos that our favorite celebrities and musical artists sport and it's no wonder people rush to cover themselves with tribal designs, ornate crosses and musical lyrics.
I come from a relatively old-fashioned background — church on Sundays, no presents on Christmas Eve, that sort of thing — so when I came home on Sept. 11 last year with a fresh tattoo proudly on display, my mom freaked.
For the next month or two I was constantly asked, "Why did you have to get it there?" or "Do you regret getting that yet?" I heard it all.
As time went on I believe my mom finally came to the realization that my tattoo was there to stay, although she still makes her voice heard when people ask me about my tattoo in her presence. In my experience, even at work, my tattoo has sparked interest in customers, especially the older ones who don't understand the reference. To me, it's a great way to start a conversation, and it also gives people a common ground.
Body modifications have become so mainstream that there are conventions held all around the world where artists can showcase their latest achievements.
In New York City, the annual New York Tattoo Convention will be entering its 13th year in May and is the Mecca for tattoo enthusiasts in the U.S.
Famous tattoo artists such as New York's own Boog from Bullseye Tattoos and Brandon Bond have graced the convention in the past to show support for their peers and to display some of their own world class pieces.
Shows like Miami Ink and LA Ink have helped put the tattoo phenomenon in a much brighter light by showing the many different faces of tattoo customers and enthusiasts, from the mom or dad who enter the shop with portraits of the kids or the war veteran looking to preserve the memory of a fallen comrade.
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