Everybody’s talking ’bout …. tattoos!
It all started when I read a post recently about the subject on another blog.
This weekend just gone, President Obama told NBC that he doesn’t want his daughters to get tattoos. In fact, he has told his kids that if they do, he and his wife will get the exact same one in the same place! I wonder if his strategy to deter them will work?!
I had an interesting conversation with my mother-in-law about tattoos on our last visit, and that’s when I realised how much thoughts and opinions about tattoos have changed over the years.
Baby Boomers
My M-I-L said that to her generation, you avoided anybody with a tattoo – because people got them when they were in jail. In her eyes, tattoo = criminal.
Generation X
I’m 40 something, and while I’m not fussed on tattoos and don’t have any, hey, each to their own. Plenty of people in my age bracket wear their ink proudly – others get them as part of their mid-life crisis!
Generation Y
To my kids, tattoos are cool! In fact Mr Almost 19 already has one on his wrist. Miss 16 went with him when he had it done, and after seeing how painful it was, she says it has put her off for life (I hope!)
According to one TV show I watched, about a third of young people in the UK now have at least one tattoo. It seems they’re no longer a sign of rebellion; tattoos have gone mainstream!
The Generations to Come
Will the pendulum swing back the other way, in years to come? Will it become so “normal” that people won’t bother anymore?
So – do you tattoo?!
Thanks for linking to my post. I agree, views have definitely changed with each generation. I am a Gen-X’r…so I grew up with more tolerance than my parents and grandparents, but probably a bit more conservative than Gen Y and future generations. It has become very commonplace. Maybe future generations will shun them again, just to be different.
It’s interesting to look at how things change over the generations … thank YOU for inspiring my post. I had it semi-written already and then President Obama made it newsworthy for me! How considerate of him 😉
I understand where you MIL’s thoughts are coming from because my mum used to be like that too. She’s ok with them now though. For me tattoos are very personal and each depict a story in my life, and what I stand for. My mum understands it now that I don’t have them as a fad, and I think through each one thoroughly before getting them. Hubby and I have a few, and I never regret whatever I’ve inked. If ever my daughter wants to have one in the future, as long as really means something to her and not because it’s “cool”, she’ll get our go-ahead 🙂
I’m glad your mum has gotten used to it. I must admit that my hubster is really not happy about Mr 18’s tattoo and it has created some tension in our home …
I am a Gen Y, and I am yet to ink my skin. I have always said that I will when I am done having kids and get something special, but who knows if that will actually occur. My dad (almost 50) is about to get one. It may be a midlife crisis (im still undecided) but its to represent his dad who died 10 years ago this year. I love tattoos, as long as they have a meaning. I think they look fantastic (minus neck tattoos, I hate neck tattoos)
Never say never, hey!
I have a tattoo of my 4yo daughters name and her DOB on my back – her new sister will go on the other side. I plan on having something in the middle to link them together, symbolising the hubster and I. Hubster has Miss 4’s name down one arm, the other arm is for bubba’s name.
I don’t mind tattoos, and I think when they’re done well they are a piece of art you carry with you everywhere. I’m with Kate – neck tattoos aren’t my fav, but overall I don’t think tattoos are as taboo as they used to be 🙂
Visiting from IBOT!
My former boss had his kids’ names inked on his upper arm, which I thought was kinda sweet 🙂
I hope to get a tattoo at some stage, I’m just so indecisive I cannot decide what to get. I’m with Kate (above) I do want the ink to be meaningful to me. I am a bit worried that I’ll love it so much that I’ll want to get the whole sleeve done!
I know, it WOULD be hard to choose and hope that you will be happy with it forever!
I have a small tattoo on my back/shoulder blade area that I got when I was about 20. I actually want to get it touched up as it lost some of its colour during the scabbing process. At the time the main motivation was because I’d always wanted one and decided one day, when a friend said she was going in a few weeks to get her second that I would join her and get one of my own. I chose a butterfly because it reminded me of my grandma and some of the chats we’d had and she’d died a couple of years earlier.
My little sister (25) just got her first, same place as mine but larger, of a rose bush and my grandma’s name with her birth and death years. It’s quite nice but larger than what I could get.
I am actually thinking about getting a second tattoo once this next bubs has come along. My Grandfather was a jeweller and made us all matching crosses for when we get confirmed and my cousin recently had the image of it tattooed on her arm. It looks beautiful and I’m seriously thinking about getting that and incorporating my daughters names in to it too. If not then ill be getting two tatts, the cross and the girls’ names. They will be quite small though and in discrete places as personally, I’m not a fan of large tattoos, but at the same time I don’t have a problem if someone else wants to get them.
I definitely reckon in years to come there will be a shift and tattoos will be so mainstream that it will be considered rebellious not to get one!
#teamIBOT was here!
The thing is, you can cover your tattoo if you want to. Hubster was angry with Mr 18 because it’s in such a visible spot. Although Mr 18 says, what’s the point if you can’t see it?! As you can see, lots of heated / lively debate in our house on this topic!
If I wasn’t so afraid of the pain I probably would. I love them on other people 🙂
Yeah I’m a chicken too. The permanency of it scares me too … what if I change my mind down the track?
I am with you and couldn’t give a hey. I say that until my 4 year old grows up I reckon.
It is a fence sitting subject mostly, I don’t like all over tatts, I have commented on a few cool ones, I don’t mind them on most people but myself or my family I am not a fan.
Gee, aren’t you glad you asked me that question!
Becc @ Take Charge Now
It sounds like we have very similar views! 🙂
Great post! I would have been gutted if I got a tattoo and then suddenly realised that it was so mainstream! Isn’t the point if having a tattoo to be all rebellious ‘n’ stuff. Kids these days. Honestly.
It’s funny how people seem to either love them or hate them!
I’m a big fan of “GOOD” tattoos. There are a lot of crap ones out there. My husband has 3, and they are pretty big. I think they are awesome, he loves the old school Sailor Jerry style tattoos! The only reason I don’t have any isn’t that I could never figure out what to get! x Karen
My brother-in-law keeps saying he wants to get some, but he’s so hairy – you wouldn’t be able to see them for the hair, I reckon!
The pendulum swings in my mind over this one – I am surrounded by tattoo’s. Hubby, sister, close friends. Truth be told, I have a tattoo design all made up especially for me – but I just haven’t taken the plunge of booking the appointment – I wonder if I ever will?
Just because a person has a tattoo (or not) doesn’t mean we love them any less! It’s what’s INSIDE that counts!
As you know I’m in my late 40’s. When I was younger – tattoo’s were usually only seen on ‘rough’ types…or perhaps that was my perception at the time? I’m personally not fussed on tattoos. I have none and will never have one. My children have none (and I hope it stays that way). I have friends with a small tattoo here or there. I do see that it has become ‘cool’ and more ‘normal’ these days but I still can’t like them and I always picture when the person is old with wrinkly distorted tattoos like that old lady on the ad. Maybe I’m just getting old!!!
Min, I had a friend who got a tatt in the small of her back. When she lost weight, her tattoo moved from the middle over to one side – she was quite annoyed!
No, I don’t have one and have never had the urge to get one (I’m Gen X).
But like you, I think..”Each to their own”
Some of them are amazing pieces of artwork!
Yeah, not my cup of tea either xxx
Great post and as you won’t be surprised to learn I have one, but even when I’m wearing skimpy bikini you can’t see it!!!!!!! I got one when I was 19, or 20, in New York with a friend. I don’t regret it but that’s probably because I got it in a place where only I and a FEW select will ever see it. It’s for me, not the world. Love your post! Em x
So come on – tell me – what have you got?!
I’ve got one on the nape of my neck of an angel. Not really sure the reason I got it, but I kind of love it.
I’ve thought about more, but won’t do it, cause Boatman is not a fan.
More than anything, I’d love to get JESUS tattoed across the palm of my hand. I figure if He has my name, why can’t I have his?
Jess that’s such a beautiful idea xxx
Interesting question. I don’t really mind one tattoo. What I don’t like is tattoo in the face, tattoo sleeve or all over the body and I absolutely hate the new trend of girls tattooing the front of their thigh.
I hadn’t noticed that trend Rita – I’ll keep an eye out for it!
I’m 32, and I have four – each one to mark something different. A tiger cub playing with a butterfly in the ‘tramp stamp” locale that I got when I was 19 and the others more recently – a polar bear cub with my sons name and birthday over my right hip to mark his long awaited birth, forget me nots on my left shoulder in remembrance of the twins we lost and “What’s past is prologue” down my left inside forearm to remind me every day that the journey sets up the future.
I view tattoos as self expression – I don’t think they’re cool or uncool, to me it’s more about the meaning of each one, a way of processing and remembering instead of just a cool design. I do think there is a trend towards people thinking they’re cool though and I wish that young kids especially thought a bit more before putting needle to skin – apparently getting rid of them hurts a hell of a lot more than getting them!
I like the way yours have special meanings xxx
I definitely want to get one, but just can’t decide on the perfect one. I only like the plain black tattoos, no colour, and will probably go with wrist when I do.
Another thought provoking post x
Yeah, if you’re going to get anything black if probably best and always in style LOL!
Well I always thought that tattoos have to represent something special, something that you want with you for the rest of your life, really deep and meaningful. But nowadays everyone just gets them to be cool or because they are pretty. And I do not like that at all.
You’re totally right about the changes between generations.
My dad is a labourer and says after work they all used to go out drinking, now the new guys go out to the gym every night instead haha