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@.twist.: not quite the same but when I was debating this earlier I made the point that my nose ring was a huge problem when I was a waitress and I had to cover it for being unprofessional. Yet in 6 years as a lawyer I never had an employer, client or judge (state or federal) seem to even notice it.
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@looch: Maybe "professional" is the wrong wording? The real issue, I think, is with people who have to deal with me about my house, my kids, my health, my safety. If you're an artist (and there are "professional" artists!) on your own, you don't affect me or my house and home and you can do what you want. Similarly, if I'm only exchanging money with you for clothing or food, I also don't care.
If you're saving my life and everyone laughs at the tear drops tattooed on your face, well... then I have a bit of a worry.
@Mae: huh! That's interesting to me. I'd never think twice about a waitress with a nose ring. The only reason I'd think twice about a lawyer with one is because it seems pretty uncommon.
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@JoJoGirl: I totally agree. Which is why it bugs me. Pandering to those stuck in obsolete mind sets.
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@Mae: They are distracting. I completed a two day course on how to make an effective presentation. Day one was all about making sure you don't distract your audience. Wether a person is distracted for a few seconds, minutes or the entire time they are in the tatted up person's presence is on them to some degree.
The tatted person is making a statement. Why else get the tattoo? The statement could be showing passion for their family or patriotism or hobby. It doesn't matter if it's offensive or not. A visible tattoo conveys additional messages about the person that may be totally unrelated to the work at hand, but has now entered the conversation because I am on the other end receiving the message.
A visible tattoo is like visible religious jewelry. There's nothing bad about another person's beliefs, but now that it's broadcasted the message, that part of them has joined the conversation when previously it had not.
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@.twist.: regarding the tear drops, that would give me pause as well, because aren't those typically used by folks that have served time behind bars?
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@looch: haha yes, but I'm just being silly. lol
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@jojogirl I disagree for one small reason, who you are (race, orientation) and who you love is not a choice.
Paying someone to dye your skin with ink is a choice. I do think it will become more acceptable over time, but I see it more as permenant fashion than fundamentally who a person is.
For what it's worth, living in Portland makes me a little cynical about it. People try desprately to be different and just end up looking like eachother.
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@looch: @.twist.: that's another content question. That's like handing in a resume that says I've killed two people or want you to think I have.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I'm not sure anyone would think twice about someone wearing a visible gold christian cross.
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@youboots: I tend to agree. Being of a certain race or being gay are not choices you get to make. Putting permanent ink all of your skin? That is your choice (because it can't be done until you're of a legal age to know better) and you need to deal with the consequences of your own decisions.
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@.twist.: well, you've never seen the episode of the original 90210 when the girls are rushing a sorority, and Andrea wears a Star of David necklace.
I mean no disrespect, but in this day and age, you never know what nerve you're going to hit. I do think things have gotten a lot more open than they were, say, 50 years ago.
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@mrs. bird: I work at a Catholic school, where our art teacher has a visible tattoo. There have been no issues. Also, I went to a Catholic school, where my senior HR teacher had an ankle tattoo. She was never told to cover it up.
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My husband has a sleeve (plus several other tattoos) and he hold an upper management position at a softwear/web design company. He doesn't hide them at work, either. I've worked with amazing teachers with sleeves and chest/back tattoos. I've also had many nurses that have been heavily tattooed.
I think it's sad that people are equating artistic expression with poor judgment and jeans with cigarette burns in them.
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@.twist.: one of my close friends is Jewish and swears everyone else is anti-Semitic unless he knows them personally (like me). So, for him to see someone so proudly advertising their religious beliefs would give him major pause.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Well, sorry that your friend feels that way. I think if we're speaking generally, which we usually are on HB, my point still stands.
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I don't think they're unprofessional! I am not a fan of facial piercings other than maybe a small nose stud.
My tattoo qualifications for what is acceptable in any work environment or not are if they're on your neck, face or hands and the quality of the tattoo. If they're nicely done on your arm I would not think anything about it. If you've got a kitchen magician's sleeve, I tend to think less about those tattoos & their owners if we're being honest.
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@MrsTiz: KITCHEN MAGICIAN. I'm dying over here.
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I would say they placement and content would be factors in my opinion. I have 4 tattoos myself and I have carefully considered their placement so that I wouldn't have trouble covering up in a professional environment.
When I worked for a major hotel chain with a conservative dress code, my tattoos were always covered. I would have thought twice about hiring anyone with neck or facial tattoos.
Now that I work for a consulting company with a relaxed dress code, I would dress according to the situation. I have no problem going into my office in short sleeves in the summer, because the people there know me. If I was meeting a new client or going to visit a school, I would make sure my arms were covered. I don't agree with it, but some people judge those with tattoos.
It's an unfortunate situation in our society, but it's also the reason why I cut off my dreadlocks in my senior year of college. I knew I'd have a hard time finding work.
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@.twist.: I went in the weeds there a bit. Didn't I? My real point is that regardless of the tattoo, if it's visible, it's distracting at worse and at best it's a conversation starter.
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@Ra: I agree
I am probably also biased because most of my loved ones have many (and visible) tattoos. But I just have a hard time seeing them as anything negative unless the content displays something I find offensive (i.e. racist or something). @MrsTiz: lol what is a kitchen magician? OH you mean badly done tattoos? Yea I guess I just assume those were done when you were young and stupid. But who wasn't young and stupid once?
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@Mae: I think they are a problem because they are distracting as other PP have mentioned. It's the same reason I doubt my employer would be cool with me coming to work with hot pink hair or in a bathing suit. When you have a job where you're dealing with clients, patients, students, etc. they are distracting. I don't think all tattoos are distracting, and a lot of this depends on placement, but I do think if the teacher in the pic that @blackbird posted went to school in a low-cut, short-sleeve shirt that her tattoos would be distracting to her students.
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@Mae: haha while I was young and stupid once, I still went to professionals to get my tats. I would never get anything done "from a friend" "at a party" lol. I know too many people who have and it always has turned out terribly. I had one friend who was at a party and got, for realz, blue lines scratchily drawn down his arm. ALL OVER his arm. with little asterisk stars in between. hilarious.
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They don't bother me in the slightest. At my husband's place of work, they make employees cover their tattoos. There is a guy who wears a big neon armband around his forearm to cover his up....I think it looks way more tacky and unprofessional than a tattoo showing!
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@.twist.: @Mae: kitchen magician is someone who gives tattoos sitting at their kitchen table, couch, garage, etc.
Usually looks like this,
and you get beautiful artwork like this:
& trust me, this happens SO often. Maybe because I live in an area where there is lot of poverty I see more tattoos like this than professional ones!
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@MrsTiz: HILARIOUS.
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@Mrs. J: I'm sure you're school is lovely, I don't doubt that there are some more progressive catholic schools, but on the whole, they're not known for embracing nonconformity.
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@mrs. bird: True. However, in the 3 I've attended and the one I've worked at, I would say it's a been positive and progressive experience.
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@MrsTiz: oh my goodness!
ETA: I don't think I answered the question at any point. They don't bother me. I wouldn't get one, mostly because there is nothing I'd want permanently on my body, at least at this point in my life. I would agree that the placement and content of said tattoos can be unprofessional (eg. tramp stamps etc). I don't think that people who have them are any less capable of doing their jobs. I think in terms of covering them, you need to know your audience.
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@Mae: I agree with you. I think, as a society, we need to get over it.
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@Ra: Completely agree.
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I have a moderate sized tattoo on the top of my foot (& one on my hip, obviously hidden). My foot tattoo says "dream" & is surrounded by stars. I cover it for interviews and when I think it might not be acceptable. My work has a no visible tattoo policy, but I've talked to my superiors about it and they don't mind it. I do cover it about 95% of the time anyway. It's not offensive, derogatory, etc. And I'd like to think I'm a fantastic employee (my reviews speak for themselves). & I work with children & families.
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As a nurse, a lot of people have tattoos in my work place. It really fluctuates depending on the department, too. ER is generally covered in them!
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I have zero issue with tattoos in a professional environment or anywhere else. I don't think a tattoo speaks to the person's character or professionalism, just to their artistic leanings and personality.
I don't have any, but I don't mind them at all on other people. -
@Mrs.Panda: Yes! I work in the ER, and it's strange NOT to have a tattoo there... We're a different crowd
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