Tattoos in the workplace

[Vladamir]

Ima get go faster stripes on my legs tbh, see if it works

I've thought about getting one on my back, but at the rate it's growing atm it'd look shit all stretched

 

[Naetha]

Personally I think there's greater prejudice for women to get tattoos than men. Like Cadiva pointed out, lots of men had tattoos, but it was highly disapproved of for a woman to have a tattoo, and until recently (and by some people, still is) regarded as something that only "common" women did. (admittedly that was probably more because they got tattoos of boyfriends' names, red devils, insipid roses etc rather than original expressive tattoos).

When you replace tattoo'd person with tattoo'd woman, I'd imagine a lot of opinions change, for example Chodax and Outlander, who have different opinions about tattoos on women - would these opinions be different if they were with regard to men, or if it was a situation where the person's gender was irrelevant (as it should be in the workplace)?

/ponder

 

[Tasslehoff]

Personally I think there's greater prejudice for women to get tattoos than men. Like Cadiva pointed out, lots of men had tattoos, but it was highly disapproved of for a woman to have a tattoo, and until recently (and by some people, still is) regarded as something that only "common" women did. (admittedly that was probably more because they got tattoos of boyfriends' names, red devils, insipid roses etc rather than original expressive tattoos).

When you replace tattoo'd person with tattoo'd woman, I'd imagine a lot of opinions change, for example Chodax and Outlander, who have different opinions about tattoos on women - would these opinions be different if they were with regard to men, or if it was a situation where the person's gender was irrelevant (as it should be in the workplace)?

/ponder

It's mostly a question of how it suits the person.

A dolphin on the ankle of a male just doesen't look quite the same as on a female

 

[Thorwyn]

A dolphin on the ankle of a male just doesen't look quite the same as on a female

Dolphins are gay sharks!

 

[Samaroon|Terracotta]

they obviously dont think they have ruined thier body though

No shit, but i bet thousands would say otherwise

And i have nothing against Tats, but Leopard man takes the piss :x

 

[Solo]

Dolphins are gay sharks!

Dolphin?

 

[Lamp]

Depends what the job is, and whether the tattoo is visible (and what the tattoo is, of course).

I don't think many people would argue that it would be inapporpriate (and unprofessional) for a lawyer to greet their clients in a sleeveless t-shit showing off their heavily tattood arms.

It comes down to this: understand what is acceptable and what is not from your employers perspective. If you want to keep the job, adhere to company policy. If you don't want the job, then feel free to bend the rules as you see fit.

I will defend anyone's right to get tattood. No problemo. Freedom of expression and all that. If you don't wanna cover em up, don't be surprised to find a P45 through your letterbox.

 

[Lamp]

I think that is a disgrace. Does that mean I have a problem?

Tiger man can make a living out of what he's done to his skin (mebbe)
I don't like it personally
I think its fvcking ugly
But he's got a right to do that if he wants and I won't stop him.
He may be a really nice person.
He might be a nazi pig.
I don't think you can necessarily judge a book by its cover. Sometimes you can. But not always.

 

[Vasconcelos]

I work for one fo those assurance/advisory big companies and i have a tattoo on my right forearm (the chinesse symbol of fire, see avatar).
One of the 1st advices i got after joining the company from my senior was to never pull up the sleeves of my shirt in the office. I was like: "As if i didnt see that coming... ", and i know other ppl around my office has the same issue (girls with tattoos on their back not being able to wear those blouses w/o sleeves which let you see the shoulders, or girls with lill sexy piercings in their noses having to put it off before entering the building)

So from my own experience, yes, this cliché is actually a reality in many places/jobs, at least in the most traditional sectors/groups.

Sad but true

 

[elisera]

I have two tattoos (one quite large on my back and one smaller one on my ankle) and I keep them covered up in work as much as I can as I work for a bank. Noone has directly asked me not to show them but I would agree that it can distort other peoples perception of you into thinking it makes you unprofessional or possibly even untrustworthy..

The only type of tattoos I would deem unsuitable for other types of work though would be any which align someone with a particular religion/belief that could offend. For example my cousin has alot of tattoos on his back and arms which reflect his strong beliefs however when he is working outside in the summer he covers them in certain areas so as not to offend or provoke anyone.

I don't see how anyone can say a tattoo or piercing is destroying your body... My body is my own and I can do what I want with it. It doesn't harm anyone else so its none of their business (imo ofc...)

 

[Chronictank]

Visible tatoos in the workplace,, no

Sad but true

not really there's a simple reason, when you are at work you represent the company you work for therefore you are "suppose" to stay in line with the company image. Provided they are hidden when you are at work, i dont see the harm in it.
At the end of the day you portray the image the company wants you to, regardless of how you feel about it

 

[Sparx]

i find tattoos on a woman a real turn on, but not too many.

I got 3 myself one on my right shoulder, one on my back and one over my left shoulder and down my arm (which i am getting extended)

I love them, but i have made a point of being able to cover mine if i need to

 

[Thorwyn]

I have two tattoos (one quite large on my back and one smaller one on my ankle)

Yes.. I remember the pics

 

[Naetha]

I don't see how anyone can say a tattoo or piercing is destroying your body... My body is my own and I can do what I want with it. It doesn't harm anyone else so its none of their business (imo ofc...)

I bet those people that sneer at tattoo'd people "ruining" their bodies drink - in which case they don't have a leg to stand on. Glass houses, stones, you get the picture. Although they're the ones I have to subsidise when they see the error of their ways and need a liver transplant at the age of 32.

 

[Hansmoleman]

I think that is a disgrace. Does that mean I have a problem?

on another unrelated note, who would win in a fight?

 

[elisera]

I bet those people that sneer at tattoo'd people "ruining" their bodies drink - in which case they don't have a leg to stand on. Glass houses, stones, you get the picture. Although they're the ones I have to subsidise when they see the error of their ways and need a liver transplant at the age of 32.

Sad but true Naetha...

 

[Chronictank]

I bet those people that sneer at tattoo'd people "ruining" their bodies drink - in which case they don't have a leg to stand on. Glass houses, stones, you get the picture. Although they're the ones I have to subsidise when they see the error of their ways and need a liver transplant at the age of 32.

think were going a little off topic no?

 

[Naetha]

think were going a little off topic no?

Well I started it, so its not like I can be accused of hijacking the thread

I just think its an interesting angle to take - it pushes the boundaries of preconceptions that people make due to a person's appearance and I find that interesting, so no, I don't think its a little off topic

 

[Dreamor]

I think as long as the tattoo's don't offend and can be covered by say a shirt or something (nothing on face or fingers) , then I have no problem with it. Hell, I have 3 Tat's on my arms and shoulder.. most of the people at work, when I got mine, started getting tattoo's or even started showing more of theres.
Tattoos are great, but some of the pictures i have seen with full body stuff would make it difficult for them either in public or to find a decent paying job. I saw a documentary about that lizard fella and he is self employed or something, so tattoos are not too bad depending on who you ask

 

[soze]

I like tats on women in moderation one or two i like but all over i personally do not find attractive. Saying that there is nothing wrong with them its just not my thing.

In work if they have a dress code that says they should be covered then she should cover them. My work has a dress code that says where possible they should be covered.

 

[tris-]

think were going a little off topic no?

no. people are being hypocritical, so why not point that out?

 

[Calaen]

Leopard man thinks hes a fucking cat though so hes obviously a goon

I think Lizard man would take him tbh!!!!

 

[Mey]

on another unrelated note, who would win in a fight?

One Word; twat.

People like him should be locked up and never allowed to see or interact with anyone in society in my opinon, fucking nut case.

 

[Chronictank]

my bad
i thought the thread was about how you dress/look in the work place >< not if it was ethical to have tatoos or not.
Personally i would never have one as i personally dont think they look nice at all but thats my preference. I think its rather naive to say people wont associate you with someone else who has a tatoo for example. If i had a swastiker tatoo'd to my forehead can you honestly say you wouldnt make assumptions about me and my frame of mind? So i dont see how you can scorn on other people for doing the same

 

[Naetha]

my bad
i thought the thread was about how you dress/look in the work place >< not if it was ethical to have tatoos or not.
Personally i would never have one as i personally dont think they look nice at all but thats my preference. I think its rather naive to say people wont associate you with someone else who has a tatoo for example. If i had a swastiker tatoo'd to my forehead can you honestly say you wouldnt make assumptions about me and my frame of mind? So i dont see how you can scorn on other people for doing the same

You use an extreme example. If you wore a t-shirt with a swastika on it, you would come up against similar assumptions.

You can't say the same about whether you have a tribal tattoo on your arm, or wear a t-shirt with tribal designs on it.

What people are, and shouldn't be prejudiced about is the fact that people have tattoos of designs rather than wear t-shirts of designs, as opposed to what they have tattoo'd/wear on their t-shirt.

Personally I think most tattoos are beautiful, if not interesting. There's always some that are vulgar, distasteful or just plain shit, but I'd say the majority of people these days get tattoos because they want to express something about themselves. I have three tattoos, two of which are large (lower back piece and across my shoulders), and one of which is always on view (on the inside of my wrist, although I am able to cover it with a watch if I want). I got them all for different reasons, but they all mean a lot to me, and I don't regret getting them, and I strongly doubt I will regret them when I'm 40, 60 or 80. I am currently in the process of working out how I can get my next tattoo to express what I want it to express in the best way I can, without jeopardising my promotion prospects

 

[Chronictank]

You use an extreme example. If you wore a t-shirt with a swastika on it, you would come up against similar assumptions.

You can't say the same about whether you have a tribal tattoo on your arm, or wear a t-shirt with tribal designs on it.

What people are, and shouldn't be prejudiced about is the fact that people have tattoos of designs rather than wear t-shirts of designs, as opposed to what they have tattoo'd/wear on their t-shirt.

aye but its the same thing, but in a more extreme nature.
The swastiker is associated with the Nazi's but before hand the swastika was assosiated with the pagan symbol the Fylfot Cross or Solar cross symbolising the movement of the sun. tatoo's are traditionally associated with people who cause trouble hence the assumption. So personally i dont get what is so offensive as you knew before hand what "people" would think once you got one.

 

[elisera]

aye but its the same thing, but in a more extreme nature.
The swastiker is associated with the Nazi's but before hand the swastika was assosiated with the pagan symbol the Fylfot Cross or Solar cross symbolising the movement of the sun. tatoo's are traditionally associated with people who cause trouble hence the assumption. So personally i dont get what is so offensive as you knew before hand what "people" would think once you got one.

I think things have moved on alot since people associated tattoos with troublemakers. In my experience they are alot more common place and accepted now what with celebrities showing off theirs etc

The one thing I would agree causes friction would be the content of tattoos though... but as Naetha said it is no different from people wearing offensive t-shirts or whatever.

 

[Naetha]

Tatoo's are traditionally associated with people who cause trouble hence the assumption.

Um, I have to admit I don't get this. Traditionally (i.e. pre-world war 2, so going back a good 60-70 years) tattoos were associated with members of the armed forces, specifically the navy. Since then, they have become more and more common. In the 60s, 70s and 80s they were linked with more working class people and occasionally prisoners (e.g. the LOVE / HATE on the knuckles thing), but not specifically as a symbol of their beliefs, more as an expression of themselves (e.g. tattoos saying Mum, flags/symbols of their countries). In the 90s, all that happened was that people got more inventive, more creative, and being tattoo'd spread across the classes much more.

You will always get extremists, but whether or not they are tattoo'd seems to be irrelevant. There is no difference between a devout catholic or muslim getting a cross or a crescent/star tattoo'd on their arm than a neo-nazi getting a swastika tattoo'd on their arm - its not how they express their belief, its what they believe that you should make assumptions about; and even then make pre-judged assumptions at your own risk.

And going back to tattoos being associated with troublemakers, I know the hollywood brat pack through the ages have been classed as troublemakers, but I would hardly associate most of these people with nazism as you seem to.

 

[Chronictank]

I think things have moved on alot since people associated tattoos with troublemakers. In my experience they are alot more common place and accepted now what with celebrities showing off theirs etc

The one thing I would agree causes friction would be the content of tattoos though... but as Naetha said it is no different from people wearing offensive t-shirts or whatever.

not for generations older than you and i, yes generally they are accepted now but the rationale behind older generations is still the same.
I am simply stating you knowingly have chosen to go down a path, you should equally be willing to accept the views of others that they are wrong regardless of your view on them

 

[Lamp]

Um, I have to admit I don't get this. Traditionally (i.e. pre-world war 2, so going back a good 60-70 years) tattoos were associated with members of the armed forces, specifically the navy. Since then, they have become more and more common. In the 60s, 70s and 80s they were linked with more working class people and occasionally prisoners (e.g. the LOVE / HATE on the knuckles thing), but not specifically as a symbol of their beliefs, more as an expression of themselves (e.g. tattoos saying Mum, flags/symbols of their countries). In the 90s, all that happened was that people got more inventive, more creative, and being tattoo'd spread across the classes much more.

You will always get extremists, but whether or not they are tattoo'd seems to be irrelevant. There is no difference between a devout catholic or muslim getting a cross or a crescent/star tattoo'd on their arm than a neo-nazi getting a swastika tattoo'd on their arm - its not how they express their belief, its what they believe that you should make assumptions about; and even then make pre-judged assumptions at your own risk.

Agree.

Man maketh the man. Not the tattoo.