Tat Rebellion

Permanent resume

As body modification becomes increasingly more diverse and overt, especially with regard to skin ink, I wonder what my grandchildren will do to rebel.

According to a Pew study titled Millenials: A Portrait of Generation Next, "Tattoos have become something of a trademark for Millennials—nearly four-in-ten (38%) have at least one. Gen Xers are not far behind; 32% say they have a tattoo. Only 15% of Baby Boomers and 6% of Silents wear body art."

In a Harris Poll reported by Vanishing Tattoo, 36% of respondents said that having a tattoo made them feel rebellious when compared with not having a tattoo. This norm-breaking aspect of body art is threatened, though, as more and more people get inked.

It seems tat's negative image is eroding, even in the work place. In a piece in Forbes from earlier this year, Rachel Hennessey reports that "with many contemporary companies stressing commitments to diversity and inclusion, tattoos are becoming increasingly unproblematic across the board. Lax tattoo policies for blue-collar and art-related jobs aren’t shocking, but the increasingly tolerant outlook of frontrunners in corporate, educational and medical industries are more surprising." 

I remember the Air force deciding it was time to come down on tattoos after it starting becoming more popular outside the gates. Until then, tats were associated with grizzled lifers, who might have a badly rendered anchor or panther on a forearm. When dewy-eyed recruits started sporting tribals and barbed-wire biceps, the AF became concerned and clamped down.

What then, will happen when marked skin becomes more common than unmarked? Will kids defy their parents by not going under the vibrating needle?

"No Mom, I am not going to get a butterfly on my ankle."

"But honey, if you don't have at least a little body art, nobody will hire you."

"It's my body, I can do what I want!"