Tattoos Informative Essay

Informative Thesis Rough Draft

Times are changing and tattoos are becoming a common trend. This is causing conflicts in the common workplace. Tattoos are being seen as unprofessional and this may not be the case. Workers should be judged by their work and not what happens to be on their skin. This art that is permanently found on their body was put there for a reason. Many people find their tattoos to be empowering and use them to express themselves. The workers want this freedom of expression and should not be discriminated against it. Tattoos are a part of the person that they are on, and should not be judged by it. Tattoos are everywhere from doctors’ offices to grocery stores. Tattoos should be accepted in the work force because they

There is a set of rules, called the code of Ethics by the National Association of Social Workers that states how tattoos and piercings are not defined as unprofessional yet are still questioned. Regarding this code, “These official designations clearly imply that professional appearance remains an important issue in social work practice. However, the question arises as to how social workers with tattoos and piercings (and perhaps other modifications) navigate these standards” (Williams 373) This code of Ethics has no rule that says Tattoos are unprofessional. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines professionalism as, “the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person” This means that person’s level of professionalism should be determined by the person’s level of work, and not what is tattooed on his or her body. In Forbes magazine, the hirer of Philadelphia’s ZB Sports stated “If I’d passed on her because of her tattoos, I’d be out one phenomenal employee,” (Hennessey 1) He was referring to Courtney Pecola who is now the company’s vice president. She has a full chest tattoo of lilacs, yet having a tattoo does not limit her

Tattoos can have religious affiliation. For example, this man was tattooed for his religion and felt as though covering them would be against his religion. “He was tattooed following a religious ceremony after a session involving communal prayer, meditation, and ritual. He believed that intentionally covering the tattoos would have been sinful.” (Osland 1) If tattoos have a religious tie, this could be an infraction of a person’s right to express their freedom of religion. If an employer puts a blanket ban on tattoo, (which means that they make a rule that no one can have tattoos in the workplace) a person with a religious tattoo could take it as discrimination. Nick Jones explains it as, “If a tattoo, or a piercing, forms an integral part of a person’s religion or belief, it could be argued that any blanket ban would be indirectly discriminatory.” (Jones 1) This does not mean that discrimination is telling someone to cover up their tattoo at work, but not hiring someone because of their religious