“Honey, would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?” – Kim Kardashian.
Well, maybe we would! Or maybe we are not a Bentley, maybe we are simply someone who wants to decorate our skin the way we want to. Tattoos are not only meaningful pieces of art personalized to our liking, but a method of expression and individuality. With Gen-Z growing up, we are seeing many young people designing pieces and rushing to the tattoo parlor to get our own ink.
Everyone has a different perspective and differing opinions when it comes to tattoos. Some view them as reserved for criminals, others as a symbol of low education, and even some believe tattoos affect future employment opportunities. While many are taught to believe such thoughts, tattoos do not always mean a full sleeve or inappropriate images. Tattoos can come in all forms depending on who is receiving them, allowing for a personal experience and design for each person.
Now more than ever, a rise of younger individuals are becoming obsessed with tattoos. Especially fine-line and simple pieces, mainly those with a sweet meaning and connection to experiences, people, or interests that have shaped individuals. Rather than tattoos being seen as large, bright pieces that cover an entire body, we are seeing the new generation of adults transitioning to these new concepts.
This welcoming of tattoos onto our skin allows for a switch in the stigmas that surround the art form. Less companies are holding strict regulations when it comes to visible tattoos, ensuring that employment can be held despite the flower on our arm or the quote on our collarbone. Even with individuals who grew up with the heavy stigmatization of tattoos, more acceptance is being held due to the transition of tattoo styles taking over. Instead of being seen as a sign of class or education, they are finally being known for what they were meant to–meaningful pieces of art that someone truly loves.
We are also often warned about tattoos because obviously, they are permanent, and our eighteen year old brain may not resonate with our forty year old brain in the future. However, I like to view each tattoo as a moment in our life where whatever the images or words were, they hold a version of ourselves we used to be. Yes, maybe we will hate a design in twenty years, but every time we look at it we remember what it was like to be that age and have the feelings and perspective we did.
Whether you have one tattoo that the sun rarely sees, or a full arm sleeve, tattoos are a wonderful way to both express ourselves and dedicate a piece of our skin to someone, or something.
And by the way, I probably would put a bumper sticker on my Bentley.
