Are Tattoos Still Taboo for Women in the Workplace?
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How many times have you seen someone with a tattoo and wondered to yourself whether or not that person was professional? Do the two terms professional and tattoo even go together? Well, before you judge people based on the ink they have on their skin, it's worth taking the time to examine why more and more professional women are getting tattoos these days. A good number of young professional women are getting tattoos these days. This might seem shocking to some people, but it’s actually an increasing trend in the business world, as more and more professional women are flaunting their tattoos, whether it’s just one or several small ones or a sleeve on their arm, as part of their personal style. While this may be shocking to many people, especially older generations, it’s important to remember that there’s nothing inherently wrong with tattoos or piercings or other styles of self-expression that seem shocking in our eyes.
What are tattoos?
A tattoo is a form of body modification, made by inserting ink, dyes and pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of skin to change the pigment. The art of doing tattoos is tattooing. Someone who creates tattoos is a tattoo artist or tattooer. (more info on wikipedia)
A growing trend in the industry
Tattoos. As women continue to become more successful in their careers, many turn to tattoos as a form of self-expression, but how does your boss feel about that? Are there risks to getting a tattoo if you’re a professional woman? In today’s world, it seems like everyone has at least one or two tattoos. From your next door neighbor to people on television, tattoos are becoming an increasing trend across the nation. For women who want to get a tattoo for personal reasons, it can be seen as a way of expressing yourself or gaining confidence in areas where you might not feel comfortable doing so before getting a tattoo.
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Do tattoos hurt?
The ink doesn’t go that deep into your skin so getting a tattoo isn’t as painful as you might think. The pain of getting a tattoo is caused by a needle repeatedly pricking into your skin. The needles are very fine so they don’t hurt much individually but if you imagine having hundreds of these pricks, then you can imagine how painful it can be. If you do have sensitive skin though, than tattoos may be a bit more uncomfortable because they usually take longer to heal than other types of piercings.
The aftermath/recovery period
The recovery period for a tattoo is about three to four weeks. It’s important to keep it clean, which involves keeping it covered with a bandage or gauze (which you should change daily) and washing it with antibacterial soap once per day. Depending on how big or small your tattoo is, you’ll want to add another layer of protection over it with an ointment such as Aquaphor. This will also prevent scabbing. After two weeks, you can take off your bandage/gauze if everything looks fine underneath—you don’t want to rip any scabs off early. And remember that sun exposure shouldn’t be taken lightly!
Are there health risks associated with tattoos?
In recent years, tattoos have become more mainstream in American culture, leading many to believe that they are now considered a more safe form of self-expression. However, while tattoos may not be as risky as they once were, some health risks still exist. After all, getting a tattoo is essentially allowing a foreign object—the ink—to enter your body through your skin. And although people don’t tend to get sick right away when things go wrong with their body’s immune system, it’s very important to remember that time will tell when it comes to any immune response inside your body. Before you get a tattoo or any other permanent procedure done for cosmetic purposes, consider looking into how well your body accepts it first.
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Tattoo trends for professional women
So you have a good job, or you’re looking for one. But there’s one sticky thing about your ambition—tattoos. If you love tattoos, it’s not really such a big deal. You probably know plenty of people with them who are successful professionals in various fields and may even be on your own staff. A 2010 survey by Harris Interactive showed that 22 percent of adults 18 to 29 had at least one tattoo while another poll found that 23 percent of adults over 30 had at least one tat as well (and that number seems to be growing). For professional women with no visible ink, it can seem like an insurmountable hurdle between you and career success. What will your conservative co-workers think? Will they judge you?
Why getting a tattoo does not make you less professional
Many employers have rules prohibiting visible tattoos, as they can appear unprofessional or decrease job performance. But people with tattoos aren’t less professional than those without them, a study published in Applied Sociology found. Researchers surveyed almost 1,000 American adults and found that 92 percent of tattooed respondents had no problem being taken seriously at work; 78 percent didn’t feel negatively about their employer having a tattoo policy. Believe it or not, there is a tattoo trend for every type of professional woman. From business women to healthcare professionals, from teachers to engineers, tattoos are becoming an increasingly popular way for women in all types of fields to express themselves. In today’s world, where everyone from teachers to CEOs have tattoos, it is no longer taboo for a professional woman to get one. In fact, many argue that tattoos can be empowering for professional women because they can be used as a way of self-expression without having to sacrifice professionalism in any way. However ,some people still feel that ink looks unprofessional on women in professional positions.
Things To Consider Before Getting A Professional Tattoo
Professional women are no strangers to tattoos. However, whether you have a tattoo or are just contemplating getting one, make sure to consider all of your options before making a permanent decision. Not only should you decide on what tattoo is right for you (if any), but also where it will be placed on your body. For example, getting ink in a high-traffic area can hurt your career when it comes time for an important business meeting or interview with a potential client. If you're still not convinced that tattoos are taboo in professional settings, look at some of these statistics; they'll help make your case: According to a survey conducted by YouGov , 23% of people said they would be less likely to work with someone who had visible tattoos.
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Consider how far you are willing to go
While tattoos are fairly common these days, many professional women still worry about getting one. For one thing, they know they’ll face unfair scrutiny from their industry’s old guard. And, hey, you can totally understand why; tattoos are a pretty bold (and permanent) choice. So how far do you want to go? Is a small ink design okay? How about more serious body art (like a sleeve or backpiece)? Where do you draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable ink in your industry? What’s your bottom line when it comes to professional women and tattoos?
Is your workplace tolerant?
Depending on your place of employment, you may find yourself staring down judgment from colleagues or employers who disapprove of tattoos. That doesn’t mean a job is off limits to you because of your ink, but it’s something you need to be prepared for if you want to work in an industry where tattoos are frowned upon. So long as that is something you can live with (or change later), then by all means have your fun with a new piece of body art. Just make sure it’s not too permanent—tattoo removal has come leaps and bounds in recent years.
What sort of tattoo makes you feel comfortable?
Different women feel comfortable with different types of tattoos. Some like them small, while others prefer them large. And, some women are ok with getting a complete sleeve or back piece while others only want a small tattoo on their wrist or ankle. What’s most important is to be honest with yourself about what you’re looking for in a tattoo design and where you’re comfortable having it placed on your body. If you aren’t completely confident in your decision-making process, then maybe it isn’t time to make a change just yet. When it comes to tattoos, be patient! You can always get another one in six months (or ten years!) if you change your mind at any point along the way.
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Remember that it’s forever!
It may seem like a minor, fleeting choice at first glance, but getting a tattoo is no joke. It’s permanent—the ink itself can never be completely removed—and it can forever change your image. So before you decide to ink, think about what sort of reputation you want to cultivate in professional circles. Generally speaking, tattoos are not accepted in most professional settings (there are some exceptions), so if that’s important to you, you might want to reconsider having one on your body.
What does your family think?
As a young woman, I was terrified of my family’s disapproval when it came to deciding whether or not to get inked. When I asked what they thought about tattoos on women, however, their response was always (and still is) the same: If you love it enough to put it on your body forever, then go for it. Having their support made me feel much more comfortable with my decision—and relieved that I didn’t have to worry about anyone other than myself.
If you decide to get a tattoo - professional advice
Professional women who choose to get tattoos need to consider that their employers might have a say in what they can do with their bodies. The answer is not always clear, but generally, employers are allowed to enforce dress codes on their workers. In fact, some companies will actually require that tattoos stay covered during business hours. A good rule of thumb is that if your ink will cause a distraction (for example, an elaborate tattoo on your chest), you’ll probably want to cover it up in professional settings—at least until you land a more flexible gig. If you absolutely cannot cover it up at work, then think twice about making such a bold statement on your body.
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