Tattoo Culture

This weeks reading said, "Unfortunately, many individuals who accept the media's positive redefinition of tattoos decide to get tattooed, only to realize that there is still an entrenched social stigma attached to tattoos." It continues to discuss that people with tattoos enjoy when people like their tattoos, but they are embarrassed when people do not react positively. Some people may feel obligated to hide their tattoos  for fear of judgement and out casting. Employees may feel the need to wear long sleeves or place their tattoos somewhere that can be hidden in case a client or customer disapproves. Although people are still not entirely comfortable with the tattoo culture, they seem to not see them in a negative light. The reading says, "The tattoo has "undergone dramatic redefinition" (Irwin 50) and has shifted from a form of deviance to an acceptable form of expression- at least as far as the youth are concerned". On the surface, tattoos seem almost completely accepted in the younger generations. Tattoos are glorified in social media and by celebrities. People use them to portray memories, express their self, and more.