Why do men and women (society in general) still pre-judge people with tattoos. girls especially?

Question

I am a 26 year old F, have 11 tattoos, many of which cannot be seen on my day to day travels. 5 - 6 in the summer are pretty much constantly on display. I do not strive for attention and I have a loving boyfriend WITH NO TATTOOS .I get the impression that many people think that tattooed people are blind, as we get stared at, even when we return a glance people carry on staring. When will society change?

Answer 1

Wow 11 tattoos fair play to you. I have one on my lower back and as I live in Ireland (flippin freezing over here) it isnt always on display. But it is occasionally especially if im wearing low cut slacks or something. I do get a lot of stares and it is annoying at times. But it is my body and my choice and I think all tattoos are beautiful cause it represents something that an individual may love or it usually has some meaning to them for them to have it engraved onto their body forever. I genuinely dont care what opinion people what I choose to do with my body. Just tossers with closed minds and inablility to accept anything new or different well in the end they are the ones losing out so much things they'll never see or experience.

Answer 2

I don't really think it's fair to say that by getting tattoos, you need to accept that people will stare at you. I understand that admiring someone's body art isn't meant to be offensive, but it can be interpreted as such when someone is blatantly staring at you for an extended period of time.

Personally, if someone admired my tattoos, I would rather have them approach me and say so, and if they want, ask to see them. Staring is most often considered to be rude; for example, when a woman walks by and a group of men obviously watch her, that woman would be offended.

I don't feel that tattoos and / or piercings give the rest of the world the right to make the pierced or tattooed person feel like they're in a zoo. Deciding to get a tattoo doesn't mean that you give up your right to be respected as a human being.

I do understand that doing something as noticeable and different as getting a large and very prominent tattoo will attract attention, but shouldn't other people have the decency to stop themselves from staring? Tattoos are a personal thing, and they weren't done for anyone except the person getting them. They're a body modification, and to many, a way of feeling more like themselves.

So I guess, yes, if you have a lot of noticeable tattoos or large tattoos, you should expect people to stare at them, but that doesn't mean you DESERVE their rudeness. It just means that society is not tolerant in general of those with unusual or different body modifications.

Answer 3

I think you aren't being honest with yourself if you have 11 tattoos, and think you aren't striving for attention. Surely you realize that when you do something that outside the norm, you are attracting attention?
If I shaved my head, cos I thought it would be cooler in the summer, and people stared at me, I'd have to expect it, because women just don't usually go around bald.
You made a conscious decision to do something to your appearance that stands out and attracts attention. You should have taken those reactions into account before you did it. No one thinks you're blind--they think you WANT to be stared at. People consider tattoos to be a form of art. Wouldn't it be odd if people DIDN'T look at a painting when they passed it?
I don't think it will ever be different. Most people will not get tattoos, because they are pretty permanent, and it's a real hassle and expense if you change your mind and want to get rid of it.
I think you are self-conscious about what you've done to yourself. I know several people who have LOTS of tattoos, who understand that they attract attention and the seem to be fine with that. In fact, they use their tattoos to start conversations. Make peace with what you've done, and accept that some people are not going to be comfortable with your decision or your taste. And be careful not to have tattoos on hands, face, neck, or any other area (ankles, for example) that can't be easily covered up in a job interview. Employers can, and will, discriminate against you for having them. It's not a disability, it's got nothing to do with your race, religion, or gender, and if they think it means you don't fit their coroporate image, they don't have to hire you. That's just the way it is.

Answer 4

You chose to be tattooed.

You are not a disabled person or a person who was born with a deformity. These people have no choice about the attention that they receive. They deserve respect and have the right not to be stared at.

You have forfeited that right by choosing to have many tattoos. You have no right to complain about the attention that you receive. You knew the consequences of your actions and chose to engage in the activity of your own free will. You have to take responsibility for it.

Don't worry about it too much, they may be admiring your tattoos. I know that I enjoy looking at people's tattoos if they are well drawn. I have nothing against them. I'm just curious and I think that tattoos can be beautiful.

Don't take people looking as an automatic insult, it isn't necessarily aggressive.

Answer 5

I feel the same way you do. I have tattoos, very extensive ones and few of them can be seen. Lucky for me, my clients can't see me at work, so my piercings and tattoos aren't an issue with my coworkers. From day to day living, there is always at least one person who stares or says something unnecessary. It gets old quick, but I don't feel society will change soon. Only good this is that when I'm 70, there are going to be plenty of other 70 year olds with piercings and tattoos and memories of what it was like to be young and have fun.

Answer 6

I think it's really just the older generation who have an issue with it because when they were younger it was frowned upon.

Nowadays, a lot of young people have them and they are not as frowned upon anymore. Gone are the days when tattoos were for hairy hells angel men only and now plenty of "normal" people have them.

Remember too that these people who are staring at you may just be looking at your tattoo or admiring it! You can't expect to have a tattoo on show and nobody looking at it! What would be the point in having one! If you don't want people to stare at it then you need to cover it up instead I'm afraid.

Answer 7

It goes back to the days of the traveling circus. Lots of women worn tattoos and were considered freaks. Change doesn't come easy. It is written that ignorance is bliss...if that is the case there are a lot of happy people walking around with nothing better to do than stare. If I were you I would lap the attention up and not let it bother you for they are the ones with the problem,not you.

Answer 8

If you didn't want people to look, why'd you get them? Besides, how dare you judge people who don't turn away at your glance as "rude" or "judgemental?" That's trying to force them to live by YOUR values, isn't it?

They're probably not judging, they're just looking! I look, too. (And I have tattos and piercings . . .well, I HAD piercings until the breast cancer.)

If you don't want people to look, cover 'em up. I have purple hair, and I'd be pretty stupid if I thought people wouldn't notice and stare. That's why it's purple!

By the way, I *am* the older generation, and we've been getting tatoos since long before you were born, so don't believe that's the reason. I think many young people are imagining most of the disapproval they experience, to make them feel special and "different." The reality is most of us just aren't that important to strangers that they waste their time disapproving of us.

Answer 9

I guess it depends on where you live. I live on Long Island and people just don't even notice that kind of stuff. For a good year here, I think everyone under 25 had a nose ring. I personally think the female body is beautiful without tattoos, although I do think that guy on Miami Ink is so sexy. Guess I'm sexiest when it comes to tats.

Answer 10

lots of people pre-judge people with tats...i have 6 and usually only 4 can be seen in the summer. i also get judged mostly by other moms when i am picking/dropping my kids off at school. out and about sometimes also. society may change if more people start to realize that just because we have tattoos we are not low lifes or drug abusers...just normal people..

Answer 11

I have one tattoo that is always visible. Its about the size of a fist close to my neck. When people look at it they stare at the tattoo...not me. Society will never change. I don't take offense to people staring at my very colorful very visible tattoo. I put it there for personal reasons knowing full and well that some people would look at it.