"On Teenagers and Tattoos" The debate over whether it should be legal for teenagers to get tattoos has been a growing problem in today’s society. There are many reasons that a teenager would want to get a tattoo, whether it’s for a personal reason, or just to be different and stand out; there are reasons behind the tattoos that teens are getting today. There are many differing viewpoints on the topic. People can agree and disagree on whether it is good or bad, but there are good points for both sides of the argument. Dr. Andre Martin and Anne Lederberg take different viewpoints on this topic. Andres Martin wrote an article defending the reasons for teenagers to get tattoos saying that there is a meaning behind every tattoo and the teens aren’t just getting a tattoo for fun. The main reasons teens get tattoos are to become unique, different or to become a part of a group. Teenagers who get tattoos want to be different from the normal person, or join a specific group or society. Martin states in his article, “Seeking individualization, tattooed adolescents can become unambiguously demarcated from others and singled out as unique,” (Martin) stating that the teens only want to be viewed as unique with the tattoos that they get. Teens also like the idea of a tattoo because of its permanence. Many people who get tattoos do it for a personal reason, so that they will be reminded of the reason that they got the tattoo. There are some teens who have grown up in households or areas where getting tattoos is normal and acceptable. Tattoos, whether meant for art, or for a meaning, should not be judged by appearance, but rather viewed as another way to show something meaningful and personal to the owner. Young people use tattoos to express how... ... middle of paper ... ...ttoo, and Martin believes that the teens should be allowed to get a tattoo if there is a bigger meaning behind it. Martins viewpoint is more valid because there can be some deep meanings behind the tattoos that teens get. Lederberg’s viewpoint isn’t as valid because hers is based on the fact that the teen that will get a tattoo will not like it and have to endure the painful and expensive task of getting the tattoo removed. Works Cited: Martin, Andrés. “On Teenagers and Tattoos.” Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 36 (1997): 860-61. Rpt. Lederberg, Anne. "Marked for life: the science of tattoos may make you think before you ink." Science World 9 Mar. 1998: 8+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.
Both authors have several tattoos and chose to get them for completely different reasons. Janes researched her first tattoo and appeared to have given it quite a bit of thought. Janes says, “Jessie and I got our first tats together to spice up our senior year at Catholic school” (73). Janes got her second tattoo a year after her first. “I simply made the decision right before the lower-back-tattoo trend took off” (73). She got her design from a friend’s T-shirt and decided that it would make a good tattoo that would represent a sweet-yet-bad girl image, or as Janes says “…the Sonic Youth-listening, beer swigging badass I also identified with” (73). Like most teens, Janes’ decision to get her tattoos appears to be a bit trivial and more for the sake of others than herself. Dolgoff’s reasons for getting her tattoos are quite different and she appears to have put much more thought...
Minors should be able to get tattoos and piercings without parental consent. Minors have their own mentality, body and thoughts. If a minor wants to decorate their body, then they should have that right to do so, regardless of any other opinions. Minors should be able to make their own decisions with their bodies to learn consequences and lessons or they can show off and be proud of it. Parents should be supportive of their children expressing themselves, but of course, support them safely.
But some teenagers maybe want to be like their parents some day. Also in the article it says, “ No matter if you say no to your kids/ teenagers for getting a tattoo they will still go get one because they think they don't have to listen to you because to them you're not the boss of what they do.
Kosut, M. (2006). An Ironic Fad: The Commodification And Consumption Of Tattoos. The Journal of Popular Culture, 39(6), 1035-1048. Retrieved November 29, 2013, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2006.00333.x
Many people have been getting tattoos lately. People of all ages have been getting them and from all different backgrounds. On a nice day in just about any public place one can spot a tattoo about every five minutes, from the business man who had a portrait of his daughter put on him to a young girl with a butterfly on her ankle and even people with extensive tattoo coverage. What is even more interesting is the rise in the number of people who are heavily tattooed and that they come from all different backgrounds. Not too long ago tattooing did not experience the popularity in mainstream culture that it does now. The question that must be asked in order to understand this fascination that popular culture has had with tattoos is why people get tattoos.
Many people believe that doctors shouldn’t have tattoos and piercings. Many say that it affects their work and it’s unprofessional, that people with tattoos and piercings should only be allowed in certain jobs. Others say that tattoos and piercings are unhealthy to the skin and doctors who have them make a bad statement on themselves, considering that doctors should be healthy. Other people use the argument that children’s doctors that have them make a bad influence on the children showing them that when they grow up, they too should get a tattoo or piercing. Although the opposing side does make some great points, these accusations can be proven wrong.
Since most people do not experience body modifications like piercing with stainless steel, wood, or bone rings in the face, ears, genitals, or other places. They also have not experienced branding or burning or scarification. Since the a majority of people have not experience extreme body modifications, they assume that there is something wrong with those that do take part in these body modifications and usually think the worst of them. Martin found that previous research that showed that several stereotypes about people with tattoos are unsuccessful in school, they come from broken homes, had an unhappy childhood. They also rarely attend church, they make poor decisions in life. They also think that the people that get body modifications while intoxicated and are easy to give in to peer
Post, R. S. (1968). Relationship of tattoos to personality disorders. J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci., 59, 516.
Tattoos are a controversial subject in the world we live in. The kind of people that get tattoos is now varied to almost all humans regardless of race, religion, or age. What many people fail to understand or realize is how much of an effect a tattoo can have on the rest of your life. The original tattoo stereotypes have faded from what they were many years ago and yet tattoos still have a reputation as for what kind of people get tattoos. There are many reasons as to why people would get a tattoo but there are many reason why you should think before you ink. Our society and the social media today has a huge impact on the tattoo industry. Movie stars and pop singers with many tattoos are posing as role models for our generation and
Symbolism and meaning is by far one of the most important aspects of the tattoo industry. “The abstract emotions and human awareness of emotions show what really is going on in ones life (Johnson)”. For that reason tattooing is a form of self-expression, and can stand for literal interpretations. For the most part these interpretations are the conveying of spiritual meaning, or marking milestones such as life or death” (Johnson). For those who think tattooing is just for looks or put a bad judgment on it, should also realize that ones personal interest reflects upon their lives. “Many individuals get their first tattoos during adolescence or young adulthood.”(Bravermark) Due to the mainstream culture, these traditions traditionally associate with stereotypes. Stereotypes defiantly have a huge impact on life. Which leads to the next point? Whether flaunted or hidden, sought as art or brought out on a whim, the tattoo has left a huge impact on generation after generation.
...and any electronic device. Media images link tattoos to wealth and fame. As a result of this many people decide to get tattoos because of their popularity and media status. The media also stereotypes people who have tattoos and portray a bad image on them. People tend to have an impression that people with tattoos are either criminals or associated with gang activity. Mass media lead people to believe that people with tattoos have a negative effect on an environment. People don’t just get tattoos because they are a part of a gang or because they are a criminal. Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings. Also they can be used to show a person’s individuality. They show how a person can be different and stand out in the world. A tattoo can be a way to publicly show what is important to a person.
Minors should not be allowed to have a tattoo or a piercing without parents permission because minors are victims of the bandwagon effect,they don’t know the consequences of getting a tattoo or a piercing,and they often merely idolize their favorite artist,actors,or musicians with their tattoos and piercings.It has occured by parents and other adults that minors need to be more aware about the consequences of getting a tattoo or a piercing because they are too young to even think about getting a tattoo or a
Laumann, Anne E., and Amy J. Derick. "Tattoos and Body Piercings in the United States: a
A persons’ image is vital when meeting someone for the first time. Our peers, employers, family, superiors, even strangers that you walk past can automatically judge someone, and imagine how they present themselves to the world. Tattoos have been predominantly linked with a rebellious attitude and pictured on out of control stereotypes such as rock starts, bikers, sailors, and disobedient teenagers who want nothing more than to hack off their parents. With a new coming of age generation and a step into a more lenient and liberal society these types of patrons still participate in body art but so do doctors, lawyers, or just the run of the mill house mom. Tattoos signify religious beliefs, cultural influence, or each individual’s sole style. Body art is no longer socially offensive, employers are more apt to hiring tatted hopeful applicants, parents are warming up to the idea of their children inking their body and no longer a stranger on the street with a tattoo is necessarily prejudged as a criminal or safety hazard. Tattoos have become more evolved over the years because they have become more of a socially accepted element of the general public.
...ng it. Not to say that tattoos and piercings are a bad thing, but when teens choose to get one, they don’t think of the consequences they might have.