The Online Reflector

Tattoos are a sign of identity, and to many people, they are the most valuable things they own.

Even though society’s standards shifted towards acceptance of art and placement of tattoos, some are still firm in their conviction that tattoos should be hidden.

Faculty Adjunct and McCleary Chapel Fellow Tayon Swafford likes visible tattoos, but believes that people need to be prepared for judgments.

“Personally, I love visible tattoos, because it really gives me a chance to say, ‘Tell me more about your tattoo,’” Swafford said. “So I would say if somebody decides to get a tattoo, they should also be ready for a lot of questions and a lot of conversation as well. It’s definitely a vehicle for promoting conversation.”

Visible tattoos have been considered taboo in society, not only in a professional setting, but in public settings. Tattoos can come with many different meanings and may put off many people.

In 2009, Swafford had firsthand experience with having to reevaluate someone based on their tattoos.

“Back in 2009, I knew a guy who used to be a part of a gang, and he has a picture of a gun tattooed on his left cheek. I remember when I first met him that was the first thing I noticed. I didn’t notice anything else about him, except that tattoo,” Swafford said.  “My first thought was [that] ethically I shouldn’t allow that picture, that representation, to determine my engagement with him. But at the same time, I said [that] I’ve never seen someone have  [a] tattoo on their face like that.”

Swafford has done research into the placement of tattoos and believes that people have to be conscience of where their tattoos are placed.

He often teaches ethics and had to reevaluate the man with the tattoo on his face, to give him a fair chance.

“So I really had to do a little bit of internal reorientation in order for me to engage him fairly. And that really promoted my decision to study a little bit about the placement of tattoos,” Swafford said.

Visible tattoos can represent many things, and Swafford said that these tattoos are conversation starters.

These conversations can change perceptions.

“I think that getting a tattoo really depends on what the person wants to use it for. I have noticed that people have gotten the tattoos as signs of identifying themselves,” Swafford said.

The social stigmas of tattoos can follow people into the workplace and affect their chances of landing a job.

Swafford believes that people should not hold back from expressing themselves with tattoos.

“It [the decision to get a tattoo] is definitely individually based. I don’t think that somebody’s desire to get or not get a tattoo should be determined by where they work,” Swafford said. “But at the same time, I think a person needs to be very aware of that institution’s standards.”

Set standards are not likely to change, even with societal views changing. Swafford still believes that people have to think before putting a tattoo on a certain part of their body.

“I do a lot of work in situational ethics, and that’s something I tell students all the time. You always have to be very aware of your situations and let your decisions be dictated by the environment that you’re in,” Swafford said.

Freshman psychology major Jensen Lynch believes that people have a right to express themselves, but that visible tattoos can not be an impulse decision.

“I believe every person has the right to express themselves in any way they see fitting,” Lynch said. “I do believe, however, that there is an appropriate age to get a tattoo. I’m sure when you’re 16 a huge tattoo across your chest may sound like a good idea, but you may beg to differ late in life.”

Swafford has seen a subtle shift in acceptance of visible tattoos.

Even though he believes people should make conscious decisions about their tattoos  he believes they should not stop themselves from getting tattoos. The placement of tattoos should not hold them back from what they want to accomplish.

“I also think that means that people should stand firm in whatever their conviction is,” Swafford said. “They shouldn’t allow themselves to be pushed around because [of] the choice they made.”