Society's tattoo count increases
Less than two decades ago, it was rare to see the average middle class citizen walking around with visible tattoos.
However, with the growing culture of creativity and self expression, permanent ink is trending, particularly among millennials.
There are various reasons that someone may get a tattoo at a young age, whether it’s a symbol of a loved one, an inspiring design, or simply a personal statement.
Jen Dirstine, a senior, has an assortment of flowers tattooed on her ankle, with each flower representing one of her family members.
“I've been in love with tattoos for so long; I had always admired that they were pieces of art that were so special you put them on your body, so once I could get one I did,” said 18-year-old Dirstine.
Dirstine’s friends and family fully supported her decision to get a tattoo at a young age.
“My parents were super supportive about it, in fact they payed for it. All my friends and people who I know aren't very keen on tattoos really admired it and the story I had behind it,” said Dirstine.
According to Pew Research Center, 36 percent of Americans age 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. This number is much larger in the younger generation than in older ones.
Although some tattoos are fun, meaningless doodles, many are meticulously designed with a deeper intent.
Psychology teacher Michelle Mckee has multiple tattoos, including a Jesus fish, a Bible verse, and a Celtic trinity cross. All of her tattoos have a deeply personal meaning, and there is a story behind each one.
“I have rules about tattoos for myself. I have to want it for at least a year before I get it, and it has to be in a place that’s visible to me, because it is for me,” said Mckee.
With an increase in popularity of tattoos comes a change in the connotation.
Mckee said, “I feel that TV shows about tattooing have really changed the stigma of them, and shown them as more of an art form. Tattoos are so prevalent, it seems like they are more accepted now.”
The launching of “Miami Ink” in 2005 marked the first popular reality T.V. show about tattoos. The show is based out of a tattoo parlor in Miami Beach, Florida. For the first time, viewers could get a glimpse into the world of ink and watch the process of tattooing, without actually stepping foot in a parlor.
The show was wildly successful, with six seasons and air time in over 160 countries.
The rise of tattoos in pop culture and media resulted in a shift in societal views. As they became socially acceptable, more and more people began getting inked.
This contemporary trend was especially popular among America’s youth.
According to a study cited in 2016 Huffington Post article “Tattoos in the workplace: The research Forbes was too lazy to do,” 86 percent of young professionals did not think that piercings and tattoos reduce the chance of getting jobs.
“I think there's a different standard of tattoos with millennials. There's more of a drive towards individualism and I think tattoos are a physical representation of inner selves,” said Sophie Clark, a senior.
Modern pop culture has brought a shift in the connotation of tattoos, and young adults have emerged as the face of the trend.
Dirstine said, “I don't think kids are given enough credit when it comes to making decisions for themselves. I believe if you are passionate and desire something enough there should be no reason for some to ever tell you, no matter how young you are, that you don't know what's best for yourself.”
However, with the growing culture of creativity and self expression, permanent ink is trending, particularly among millennials.
There are various reasons that someone may get a tattoo at a young age, whether it’s a symbol of a loved one, an inspiring design, or simply a personal statement.
Jen Dirstine, a senior, has an assortment of flowers tattooed on her ankle, with each flower representing one of her family members.
“I've been in love with tattoos for so long; I had always admired that they were pieces of art that were so special you put them on your body, so once I could get one I did,” said 18-year-old Dirstine.
Dirstine’s friends and family fully supported her decision to get a tattoo at a young age.
“My parents were super supportive about it, in fact they payed for it. All my friends and people who I know aren't very keen on tattoos really admired it and the story I had behind it,” said Dirstine.
According to Pew Research Center, 36 percent of Americans age 18 to 25 have at least one tattoo. This number is much larger in the younger generation than in older ones.
Although some tattoos are fun, meaningless doodles, many are meticulously designed with a deeper intent.
Psychology teacher Michelle Mckee has multiple tattoos, including a Jesus fish, a Bible verse, and a Celtic trinity cross. All of her tattoos have a deeply personal meaning, and there is a story behind each one.
“I have rules about tattoos for myself. I have to want it for at least a year before I get it, and it has to be in a place that’s visible to me, because it is for me,” said Mckee.
With an increase in popularity of tattoos comes a change in the connotation.
Mckee said, “I feel that TV shows about tattooing have really changed the stigma of them, and shown them as more of an art form. Tattoos are so prevalent, it seems like they are more accepted now.”
The launching of “Miami Ink” in 2005 marked the first popular reality T.V. show about tattoos. The show is based out of a tattoo parlor in Miami Beach, Florida. For the first time, viewers could get a glimpse into the world of ink and watch the process of tattooing, without actually stepping foot in a parlor.
The show was wildly successful, with six seasons and air time in over 160 countries.
The rise of tattoos in pop culture and media resulted in a shift in societal views. As they became socially acceptable, more and more people began getting inked.
This contemporary trend was especially popular among America’s youth.
According to a study cited in 2016 Huffington Post article “Tattoos in the workplace: The research Forbes was too lazy to do,” 86 percent of young professionals did not think that piercings and tattoos reduce the chance of getting jobs.
“I think there's a different standard of tattoos with millennials. There's more of a drive towards individualism and I think tattoos are a physical representation of inner selves,” said Sophie Clark, a senior.
Modern pop culture has brought a shift in the connotation of tattoos, and young adults have emerged as the face of the trend.
Dirstine said, “I don't think kids are given enough credit when it comes to making decisions for themselves. I believe if you are passionate and desire something enough there should be no reason for some to ever tell you, no matter how young you are, that you don't know what's best for yourself.”