Corporate Ink: The Relationship of Tattoos in the Workplace and Self-Expression

Abstract

Body Modification has been an ongoing trend and has in the recent years emerged in pop culture, making it an international phenomenon. While the practice of tattooing has been a part of history for thousands of years, dating back to between 3370 BC and 3100 at its earliest findings, tattoos have not always fit into society and have not always been seem as normative. Tattoos have been stigmatized, and often seen as a deviant act that impacts people who choose to get tattoos. Reasons for tattooing expand beyond deviance, and in the 21st century, it is seen as an expressive art form. Through research, surveys, interviewing and autoethnography, this paper will explore how college age students are gearing up for the workforce, and how they view tattoos in a professional setting.