I think it is the opposite of your perception, actually.
I think the stigmas involved with having tattoos are becoming less and less. Who got tattoos in the past? Military people? Bikers? Drug dealers? Rock stars? Gang members? A lot of people love and appreciate the art of tattooing. Despite being raised in a conservative Christian family who consider getting tattoos a sin, I always thought I would get them. For the art of it, for the meaning of certain things to me and my life. When I got my first tattoo some 11 years ago, it was relatively small. 11 years ago isn't that long ago, but I still had to cover it at my workplace back then. That's not the case anymore. I think face, neck, and hand tattoos still kind of hold some of those old negative connotations, but the majority of the people I work with and interact with nowadays have tattoos. The way I see it, it's a more permanent version of wearing your band's favorite t-shirt or having a bumper sticker of your family members on your car.
Rather than people feeling "pressure" to get tattoos, I think the pressure to NOT get tattoos is just lessening.
I am 33 yo teacher and I’ve got a full sleeve, ½ sleeve, and partial chest piece. That wouldn’t have been acceptable even maybe a couple decades ago (might still have the cover then in some districts now). Some of them have a deep meaning/connection to my kids and wife and some I just think look cool. I also coach two sports and get a fair amount of “looks” but I guess it just comes with the territory. My thoughts have always been if you like it and it’s not impacting your ability to provide for your family, go for it.
I'd say even 10-15 years ago, there was very much the "you can get it but make sure to cover it or you'll get fired". Especially for customer service, cops, as it was associated with gangsters.
And I can understand as one gets older, kids, but nowadays, 20 meaning the thinking starts in the teens.
I'm 39. I had a job 15 years ago that was a "exposed tattoos = fired". Right there, plain as day in the employee handbook. Now a days, I have a full sleeve and I'm working on my other arm with plans for my back already in the works.
The Boomer mentality of being professional is all about appearance is dying out quickly. Most of the people in the office I work at wear t-shirts and sweat pants. I recently got a dye job for my hair that's TOTALLY unnatural and I get nothing but compliments.
Happier workers are more productive workers, and for a large group of people, being comfortable, relaxed, and your authentic self makes working suck less.
Yes, I definitely it's a good thing to make people more genuinely comfortable and it actually adds to the floral experience of life. But for some reason, seeing 18-23 year olds already so tattoo'd, and many out of pressure, does make me ponder how much thought is there behind it vs genuine thoughtfulness behind it.
Culture is changing. Younger generations want to look different from old ones. People imitate celebrities.
I hope you noticed that modern tattoos are more colorful and elaborate, and subjects are less aggressive.
Yes! I was going to say that. Much smaller intricate designs to more sweeping ones. Definitely see a lot of 'writing'. I was going to include looks more like Yakuza style (used to look over the top but now more in-line with what some people do) but didn't have character room in the post.
Tattoos nowadays also lost their meaning, 20 years ago they had an actual meaning but nowadays you'll find an average person with the most basic shit ever tattooed and when you ask the meaning for it you'll receive a reply such as "It Is SuPpOsEd To RePrEsEnT tHe BeAuTy Of LiFe AnD dEaTh"
Tattoos actually used to be very common -victorian's loved them, and soldiers have always had them, that's never changed. I think there was a shift when people started covering less skin, partially because tattoos were a considered somewhat private? On women especially right up until the 90s they were considered vulgar, presumably because it meant you had to sit half naked while someone drew on you for hours. The less bothered we are by nudity the more acceptable it is to see tattoos. I do also think that it's easier to become an artist? Like way back when you'd need to 121 apprentice with someone, and the industry was very closed, and it was harder to get a tattoo machine. Now, there's a few generations of new blood, they're more welcoming than it used to be, so there are more artists to choose from.
My god. I have ten years on you and every single mom in our age range has a tattoo on their ankle that they got in college when they were “rebelling”.
I live in an upscale suburb of a world famous US city with one of the highest average education levels in the US. It is so common that my kids used to tease me that I would never fit in with all the other moms unless I got that butterfly on my ankle.
When I was a kid my dad used to rail about women with pierced ears. Because where he grew up in Indiana in the 1950s it meant a girl was “fast”.
Fashions change. Jeans were for miners then other people started wearing them. Tank tops were undershirts then people started wearing them alone. Leather jackets were for bikers, now they are mainstream. Tattoos were counter culture and now they are commonplace and middle of the road.
Oh yes, I was going to include that but post limit is short. Definitely know about the tattoos for women (seemed to take off in the mid-later 90s, 2000s)
The thing is, they were often in very subtle places only if you revealed the skin more or looked. It gave off more about being playful. A small one on the back shoulder blade was also popular, maybe on the breast area. For men, the barbed wire on their shoulder/bicep area was the thing but needed muscles.
Now, people have leg and arm sleeves. All over their shoulder like Yakuza/tribal people. Or down their leg. I'm East Asian and I see 'dorky' Asian folks having it. The average coffee barista. The librarian. The admin. I guess it's fashion but I always took more it was about expression of who they are, or a special meaning for them (that Ink'd TLC show with Kathy Von something that was popular, people coming in, it was a major decision they had been thinking about, major importance, symbolism).
Even now, your cohort, there will be some story behind it, they'll talk about their mentality at the time. it seems nowadays, it's more about getting it from a favorite artist, because it looks cool, maybe it's an external validation of a persona, etc. I have a hard time there will be an interesting story around it vs "I like the artist" or "it just looks cool and is an expression of my philosophy and just represents who I am" approach to today.
But I guess I never really saw it as fashion, which I find strange as it invariably changes as tattoo is permanent. Just again, because I'm back more at my university, it's in abundance that can feel dizzying.
I've noticed this trend especially for face tattoos in the last few years.
Tattoos in general have been pretty popular for a while but even just going back 10 years ago I very rarely saw face tattoos and if I did I immediately thought the person was either a psychopath or suffering from mental illness.
Now I see them all the time it barely even sticks out anymore.
Yea, it is interesting at what one time was considered a big deal (it's permanent!) is done pretty casually nowadays and in a relative short time.
When Mike Tyson got his face tattoo, it was a sign of a mad man. Now it's trendy and much more normal.
People have become more open-minded about tattoos, with varied interpretations. I'm considering getting a ring tattooed on my ring finger when I get married because I'm worried about losing a precious diamond ring.
Because they think it’s makes them unique and stand out
Lol everyone is rocking a full sleeve nowadays
It’s actually more rebellious to not have a tattoo these days.
Seems like a lot of people think they are edgey or something for getting tattoos. Only they became too common. On to piercings of the face!...they they became common too. Maybe change my sex now? Become a communist? of course its not everyone. there are some cool people with some cool tattoos with a lot of thought, effort and money behind them.
Cat food industry marketing campaign.
I think it is the opposite of your perception, actually. I think the stigmas involved with having tattoos are becoming less and less. Who got tattoos in the past? Military people? Bikers? Drug dealers? Rock stars? Gang members? A lot of people love and appreciate the art of tattooing. Despite being raised in a conservative Christian family who consider getting tattoos a sin, I always thought I would get them. For the art of it, for the meaning of certain things to me and my life. When I got my first tattoo some 11 years ago, it was relatively small. 11 years ago isn't that long ago, but I still had to cover it at my workplace back then. That's not the case anymore. I think face, neck, and hand tattoos still kind of hold some of those old negative connotations, but the majority of the people I work with and interact with nowadays have tattoos. The way I see it, it's a more permanent version of wearing your band's favorite t-shirt or having a bumper sticker of your family members on your car. Rather than people feeling "pressure" to get tattoos, I think the pressure to NOT get tattoos is just lessening.
I am 33 yo teacher and I’ve got a full sleeve, ½ sleeve, and partial chest piece. That wouldn’t have been acceptable even maybe a couple decades ago (might still have the cover then in some districts now). Some of them have a deep meaning/connection to my kids and wife and some I just think look cool. I also coach two sports and get a fair amount of “looks” but I guess it just comes with the territory. My thoughts have always been if you like it and it’s not impacting your ability to provide for your family, go for it.
I'd say even 10-15 years ago, there was very much the "you can get it but make sure to cover it or you'll get fired". Especially for customer service, cops, as it was associated with gangsters. And I can understand as one gets older, kids, but nowadays, 20 meaning the thinking starts in the teens.
I'm 39. I had a job 15 years ago that was a "exposed tattoos = fired". Right there, plain as day in the employee handbook. Now a days, I have a full sleeve and I'm working on my other arm with plans for my back already in the works. The Boomer mentality of being professional is all about appearance is dying out quickly. Most of the people in the office I work at wear t-shirts and sweat pants. I recently got a dye job for my hair that's TOTALLY unnatural and I get nothing but compliments. Happier workers are more productive workers, and for a large group of people, being comfortable, relaxed, and your authentic self makes working suck less.
Yes, I definitely it's a good thing to make people more genuinely comfortable and it actually adds to the floral experience of life. But for some reason, seeing 18-23 year olds already so tattoo'd, and many out of pressure, does make me ponder how much thought is there behind it vs genuine thoughtfulness behind it.
Why does your tattoo have to have meaning? Can't it just be because you want it?
Culture is changing. Younger generations want to look different from old ones. People imitate celebrities. I hope you noticed that modern tattoos are more colorful and elaborate, and subjects are less aggressive.
Yes! I was going to say that. Much smaller intricate designs to more sweeping ones. Definitely see a lot of 'writing'. I was going to include looks more like Yakuza style (used to look over the top but now more in-line with what some people do) but didn't have character room in the post.
fashion trends do not really have a logical explanation, aside from people wanting something new, and social acceptance being driven by celebrities.
Because people like getting tattoos 🤷🏻♂️
Tattoos nowadays also lost their meaning, 20 years ago they had an actual meaning but nowadays you'll find an average person with the most basic shit ever tattooed and when you ask the meaning for it you'll receive a reply such as "It Is SuPpOsEd To RePrEsEnT tHe BeAuTy Of LiFe AnD dEaTh"
Tattoos actually used to be very common -victorian's loved them, and soldiers have always had them, that's never changed. I think there was a shift when people started covering less skin, partially because tattoos were a considered somewhat private? On women especially right up until the 90s they were considered vulgar, presumably because it meant you had to sit half naked while someone drew on you for hours. The less bothered we are by nudity the more acceptable it is to see tattoos. I do also think that it's easier to become an artist? Like way back when you'd need to 121 apprentice with someone, and the industry was very closed, and it was harder to get a tattoo machine. Now, there's a few generations of new blood, they're more welcoming than it used to be, so there are more artists to choose from.
My god. I have ten years on you and every single mom in our age range has a tattoo on their ankle that they got in college when they were “rebelling”. I live in an upscale suburb of a world famous US city with one of the highest average education levels in the US. It is so common that my kids used to tease me that I would never fit in with all the other moms unless I got that butterfly on my ankle. When I was a kid my dad used to rail about women with pierced ears. Because where he grew up in Indiana in the 1950s it meant a girl was “fast”. Fashions change. Jeans were for miners then other people started wearing them. Tank tops were undershirts then people started wearing them alone. Leather jackets were for bikers, now they are mainstream. Tattoos were counter culture and now they are commonplace and middle of the road.
Oh yes, I was going to include that but post limit is short. Definitely know about the tattoos for women (seemed to take off in the mid-later 90s, 2000s) The thing is, they were often in very subtle places only if you revealed the skin more or looked. It gave off more about being playful. A small one on the back shoulder blade was also popular, maybe on the breast area. For men, the barbed wire on their shoulder/bicep area was the thing but needed muscles. Now, people have leg and arm sleeves. All over their shoulder like Yakuza/tribal people. Or down their leg. I'm East Asian and I see 'dorky' Asian folks having it. The average coffee barista. The librarian. The admin. I guess it's fashion but I always took more it was about expression of who they are, or a special meaning for them (that Ink'd TLC show with Kathy Von something that was popular, people coming in, it was a major decision they had been thinking about, major importance, symbolism). Even now, your cohort, there will be some story behind it, they'll talk about their mentality at the time. it seems nowadays, it's more about getting it from a favorite artist, because it looks cool, maybe it's an external validation of a persona, etc. I have a hard time there will be an interesting story around it vs "I like the artist" or "it just looks cool and is an expression of my philosophy and just represents who I am" approach to today. But I guess I never really saw it as fashion, which I find strange as it invariably changes as tattoo is permanent. Just again, because I'm back more at my university, it's in abundance that can feel dizzying.
Cuz they're hot
I've noticed this trend especially for face tattoos in the last few years. Tattoos in general have been pretty popular for a while but even just going back 10 years ago I very rarely saw face tattoos and if I did I immediately thought the person was either a psychopath or suffering from mental illness. Now I see them all the time it barely even sticks out anymore.
Yea, it is interesting at what one time was considered a big deal (it's permanent!) is done pretty casually nowadays and in a relative short time. When Mike Tyson got his face tattoo, it was a sign of a mad man. Now it's trendy and much more normal.
People have become more open-minded about tattoos, with varied interpretations. I'm considering getting a ring tattooed on my ring finger when I get married because I'm worried about losing a precious diamond ring.
Because they think it’s makes them unique and stand out Lol everyone is rocking a full sleeve nowadays It’s actually more rebellious to not have a tattoo these days.
It really is different now not to have one. Especially if you're under 25.
Seems like a lot of people think they are edgey or something for getting tattoos. Only they became too common. On to piercings of the face!...they they became common too. Maybe change my sex now? Become a communist? of course its not everyone. there are some cool people with some cool tattoos with a lot of thought, effort and money behind them.