COVER STORY

NO LONGER TABOO

Students and staff share their stories behind their body art

BY CADEN MCDERMOTT When people imagine someone with tattoos, images of people covered head to toe in tattoos and crazy piercings are often conjured up; however, people with tattoos are often teachers, parents and other members of the community who many may not realize are tattooed.

The stigma and stereotypes around tattoos are quickly changing. Until recent years, many people with tattoos struggled to get professional jobs and were seen as outcasts.

Now, students and faculty are expressing themselves through their tattoos more than ever because of the changing perception of tattoos in our society.

Tattoos are a form of body modification and self expression. Many people’s tattoos have a very intricate and personal meaning to them.

“I got my tattoos to commemorate a loved one permanently in a place that I can always see,” senior Lucian Davis said.

However, the beautiful thing about tattoos is that they do not have to have a deeply personal meaning. For many people they choose to get something that simply looks cool and they want that to be on their body forever.

“Some of them have meaning, such as family significance,” senior Colin Sheehan said. “A couple of mine are just because I like the way they look.”

For 18 year old students wanting to get tattoos there is a tough balance between being legally able to get a tattoo, but still living at home under their parents' rules. Most do not risk getting the tattoo without their parents approval.

“I was a little worried when I first approached my parents about getting a tattoo,” Davis said. “My family is very supportive though because my tattoos are in memory of my loved ones.”

Others do not have to worry about the fear of persecution coming from their parents, rather they are influenced by them.

“My dad has always had tattoos and he got them at a young age, so I No'el Fortner shares her tattoo based on the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird." Senior Lucian Davis's three tattoos are on display during a wrestling match. Photos courtesy of Fortner and Davis.

always found them cool and growing up seeing other peoples artwork and designs have inspired me,” Sheehan said.

So many parents allowing their kids to get tattoos demonstrates clear evidence that the stigma around tattoos is changing. However, parental acceptance does not stop strangers and peers from mistreating those with tattoos.

“Usually when people see my tattoos it goes well, there is always the occasional elderly person who wants to give the ‘your body is a temple’ speech, but usually they are complimented,” Davis said. “I do think people definitely look at me differently, but I am okay with that; tattoos are for me, not them.”

This harsh judgment comes mainly from the older generations who are not accustomed with the changing perspective on tattoos. Many of the students embrace others with tattoos and appreciate them.

“Honestly, a lot of people like them and find them intriguing and aren’t scared away by them, which is what you would normally expect,” Sheehan said. “I think people have gotten used to the tattoo culture and sort of embrace it instead of shunning those who have them”

In the past, it was common for people going into professional fields to get their tattoos in places that no one could see in order to get jobs. For tattooed teachers this kind of discrimination has been especially prevalent.

“My first two tattoos were not visible so I didn’t have to be as worried about the administration getting upset about them,” English teacher No’el Fortner said.

With tattoos becoming more mainstream, schools have become more relaxed about tattoo policies for teachers. Currently the 2019 Equality Act is making its way through congress, which would effectively end the discrimination against tattooed teachers.

“When I first started teaching it was definitely not okay, like you are supposed to be a professional you can not have tattoos, you are not a biker,” Fortner said. “Over my twenty years of teaching that has become very different, I think people are a lot more accepting, so I do have a few visible tattoos now.”

Tattoos were once for outcasts and counterculture, but now that it has entered the mainstream, it has created a unique community of people who are connected by their body art.

“When I see someone with tattoos I think I am more inclined to go up to them and connect with them about it because that is something we share right off the bat,” Fortner said.