by Elika Broumand

I have always been curious as to why tattoos are considered taboo in so many cultures. I remember getting my first tattoo (which wasn’t too long ago) and not telling anyone in my family. Naturally, everyone found out about the taboo I had crossed, and had very hesitant congratulatory reactions.

My grandmother’s reaction was particularly memorable. I was standing in her living room, facing her, stretching my arms out and getting ready to start my day. She looked at me, pointed to my arm, and asked if the little black piece of art was a tattoo. I responded with a shy, “Yes,” and she told me, “That better be the only one.” Pertinent to this interaction are two things. Firstly, my grandmother is a 91-year-old immigrant from Iran, and is opposed to tattoos on cultural grounds. Secondly, my grandmother coincidentally has her eyebrows, eyeliner, and lipstick tattooed.

As I have entered the “tattoo world,” I have noticed a serious generational bias towards tattoos. Plenty of my friends and acquaintances from various cultures have tattoos, and most of them have a story about how their community had a negative and biased reaction towards them due to the fact that their skin is no longer blank. My wonder about this generational bias towards tattoos went through the roof, so I decided to formally interview a select handful of people to understand their opinion and reactions toward this bias. Below are interviews with people with and without tattoos, from various parts of the world, edited lightly for clarity that highlight this bias and the generational reactions to it.

Can from Istanbul, Turkey

Can is a student at Fordham University.

In general, what has your experience been with judgment towards your tattoos? Is it just normally older people, kids influenced by their parents, employers, or anything else you can think of?

It depends on the context. When I go to internships, and it’s a much more professional environment, I get more looks. I only have one larger tattoo that’s visible when I’m wearing a t-shirt, so that gets a few stares.

Just in America, or also back in Turkey?

It’s around the same. Nothing really changed for me.

What about your family? How did they react? Do they have tattoos as well?

Neither of [my parents] do. My dad was actually very unfamiliar with how tattoos work, he’s from a very rural area— he didn’t really mind. My mom was more concerned about the health effects, which was weird to me.

Even with your internship [there has or hasn’t been judgment]?

Back home, I have had two internships. One of them was a much more professional environment. It was more of an actual office space— there, I got a few looks, but it wasn’t anything serious. I don't think I got actually discriminated against because of my tattoos. Some people might have found it weird, maybe some people subconsciously judged it, but I don’t think I have ever been seriously separated from other people because of them.

Do you think there is a generational bias towards tattoos?

Oh, yeah, 100 percent. Millennials and us [Generation Z], we don’t care as much, but anyone older than that— in my experience— they are more likely to ask you a question or stare at it. It depends on age, religion. It’s a lot about background.

Turkey is predominantly Muslim, correct?

Very much yes.

So how do they react to tattoos?

Weirdly, Turkey is one of the most tattooed countries. The Balkans and that area of Europe love tattoos. So, no one has ever really come up to me, specifically about religion, but if they are more religious, they are more likely to judge me because of it.

Why do you think that generationally there is a specific type of bias?

It just wasn't as common back then, which is probably the main reason. Also, it is associated with a lot of things, they might have the stigma that criminals get tattoos, war veterans get tattoos, all these groups that people generally have a bias towards getting tattoos.

So this big thing, where people say you’re going to regret it. Do you agree with the notion that you’re going to regret it?

I think you definitely will regret your tattoos, especially if you don’t think hard enough about it. I haven’t yet. I don’t get it, however, when people say you’ll get bored of them. I don’t see how people get bored of something that is on their bodies. To me that feels like saying, “Oh you'll get bored of your hand.” It’s just on you. But, seeing it everyday, you may start to dislike it more, which is a separate thing. I have thought about my tattoos for a while before getting them, so I’ve never regretted them.

How do you think you’ll feel when you regret it? You’re not going to get bored of them, but would you feel anything else?

If I ever regret them, it will either be a professional reason, or I’ll get really old and it won’t look how I want it anymore. There is always the option of removing it, which is painful and expensive. But, I think by the time I’m that old, there will be better technology. If I ever regret it— for me it’s like a memory I had, at some point in my life if I wanted to get it, because I did. It will remind me of that time. You might not like it then— let’s say I regret it at 40 years old. I’ll say: “20 years ago it meant a lot to me.” If something used to mean a lot to you, you’re still going to remember it.

Other than personal reasons for getting them, why did you start choosing to get tattoos?

I haven’t really thought about it. The first one, I was very much into art at the time (I still am)— [I was influenced] by my favorite painter of all time. And one of my friends got a tattoo at the time— I might have been influenced by that, and maybe that got me thinking about tattoos in general. I remember seeing this one painting from that guy and it was my favorite painting for a while, and I thought, “If I ever am going to get a tattoo, it will probably be this one.”

Do you think influence is a big thing? You said you were influenced by your friend. Do you think that’s why a lot of people get tattoos now?

I don’t think that’s anyone’s main reason. I don’t think anyone is subconsciously thinking, “Oh my friend just got a tattoo, I have to get one.” That’s not what I thought at all. But, it does show you that people do get tattoos. Like, “My friend got it, it can’t be that weird to get a tattoo.” There was also a very popular tattoo shop right next to my house. All my friends got their’s there, and I knew the guy, so the concept of getting tattoos was never foreign to me. But if it is foreign to someone, then their friends getting it might make them realize that it’s something people do.

Andres from Mexico City, Mexico

Andres is a student at Fordham University. He does not have any tattoos.

What has it been like observing friends, acquaintances, and others who experience bias from having tattoos, especially in Mexico?

I don’t think many people have experienced bias just because they have tattoos. Normally what I’ve seen is that people who live in certain parts of the city have very different styles of tattoos and they normally receive a bias towards them. But maybe not necessarily because of their tattoo, I think it’s more social, more demographic back home.

If this person from this certain demographic had a very different style and lived in a nicer part of the city, would they be judged, do you think?

I’d say that if you live in a more affluent part of [Mexico City], you wouldn’t be judged, which I think is weird because normally a more affluent person may have a more liberal view in general, so having or getting tattoos is more accepted and more common to see. But if you live in a less affluent part of the city, and you did get a tattoo, you would be associated with negative/criminal activities.

Do you think the primary religion [Catholicism] has anything to do with it?

Definitely, because, in Catholicism and Mexican culture, the belief [is that] your body symbolizes the temple of God. Your body is a temple that should be respected, so drawing symbols, marking, or cutting your body would be a “disgrace” towards your body.

Our generation, especially in Mexico, the people your age, the friends and stuff who get tattoos, who are just as religious and just as cultural— why do you think they don’t follow that? Is it too old, custom-wise?

The idea of your body being a temple [is] very tied to Catholicism, and I feel like our younger generations are moving away from religion. I feel like it’s not even that big of a problem anymore. Especially because tattoos are very popular with younger generations, so there’s a very general disregard for religion in general now, even though Mexico is a very religious country.

Personally, what are your opinions on tattoos?

I like them. I like them. But I’m not sure if I would get one, not because I necessarily believe that religion would impact my choice, but I wouldn’t know what to get on my body, and for me it seems a little too permanent right now.

Do you have anything else you want to add?

I feel like tattoos don’t really say that much about a person. I feel like a lot of people read into tattoos too much, and that's why it sometimes receives a negative stereotype. Like at the end of the day it's just a drawing on your body. I feel like we shouldn't always think too much about tattoos.

Do you think generationally people are not used to it?

Yeah, I would say it’s generational, it’s cultural, but a tattoo is a tattoo because it’s noticeable, so it’s something that is a choice, something that is given to you by you.

Ava from Los Angeles, California

Ava is an NYU Gallatin Student.

How old was your mom when she got her first tattoo?

Her first tattoo ever was her name in Farsi and a sun, and she was my age— 19 or 18—, and she got that in high school on her stomach, and that was some rebellion against her parents. And then, as she got older, she got her first tattoo that meant something— [a] specific moment in time kind of thing— and that was when I was probably around 13-years-old, so she was around 40-something.

How has her family, especially the Persian side, reacted?

She is a very confident person. She never tried to hide it, especially at, like, Thanksgiving or any of those things. She would accept, or kind of brush it off, but it was always a questioning thing of, “Is that real? Oh my God.” Her dad, who’s Persian, loves her, obviously, but there are just some things that he decides not to see. From cousins, it was definitely more light-hearted, but very much open about asking her.

For you, what has it been like observing that bias?

I think for me, even though it’s my family, it’s hard to say, but words matter, so if it is something meaningful to somebody else, I don’t understand why it can’t just be accepted— especially when you do learn the story behind her tattoos and the meaning behind it, and the point that the person was at in their life. I don’t understand why it is such a thing where it is disrespectful, or in some way it is a disgrace, or it is something that she shouldn’t have done or that she is made to feel like she should regret it. I don’t understand why that has to be a thing.

Would you get a tattoo?

I do have two. I have one with my mom. And then my grandparents thought I just drew on myself, and I kind of said yes. This one is matching with her— so this one is some stars with her, and then I have this strawberry. But that was her first one of purpose, a really well done fine line.

My grandparents — it’s the same thing, I got it before I went to NYU, so I haven’t really spent copious amounts of time with my cousins where they would see it. The younger ones are definitely very supportive, but the older ones have not said anything. It is the same thing with my grandpa. He will pretend like he doesn’t see it because he just doesn’t want to see it.

I’m assuming you do think there is one, but, do you think there is generational bias?

Yeah, for sure. I feel like I definitely see my grandpa's brothers and sisters will have this stigma towards it, and a, “Why did you do that to yourself?” kind of thing. But then as it comes down the line to their children, I feel more comfortable showing them and I feel more comfortable talking to them about it because they have always been happy for me— not to say that the older ones haven’t— but the ones that are more twenties/thirties, just getting married right now are very much more open to the idea of getting tattoos. They are also the generation who have not married Persian people, they’ve married people that don’t share the same cultural background. It goes hand-in-hand. All of my grandpa’s brothers and sisters, most of them have all married someone who is also Persian. [My grandpa] married someone who’s from Mexico, so it’s like these cultural things: why do you have an opinion about it?

Which generations do you think really contribute [to this bias]?

I think it’s the generation before millennials [Generation X], the older ones. I think the younger ones are similar towards millennials where it is becoming more accepted. And then whatever my grandparents are. I guess first generation America has a lot to do with it, since a lot of them came from Iran.

With this generational thing, they always say you are going to regret your decision. Do you agree with this?

No, because you can’t live and regret. And, second of all, it’s the same thing, they have probably done copious amounts of things that they do regret. It is also like, I don’t know who they are to say that— if it is a decision you are proud of, that you made, that has meaning behind it. I definitely don’t agree with that.

Even though you don’t agree with— and I really like that, “You can’t live and regret,” people forget that— what is your current mindset towards future potential regret?

Just accepting that. I am trying to be in a place to accept and not live and regret. I think right now— especially being at Gallatin, at college, at NYU in general— it’s like, “Am I making the right decision?” It's hard to live in that mindset all the time of like, “Am I choosing the right classes? Am I not going to live up to the potential of the four years? Am I going to make a decision and regret [it]?” And I think the same goes for a tattoo, where you have to be in the right mindset, and you have to have confidence in yourself that your life has led you to make this decision, and it has meaning behind it, and I think that that is very special and beautiful.

For you personally, why did you choose to get tattoos? Were you inspired by your mom?

I was, and I also think it was a specific time in my life. I got it as I graduated high school and I was going to NYU. My relationship with my mom really shifted my senior year, and it was a complete opposite spectrum. I got so close to her, and she has a bunch of tattoos, she just started getting them for a bunch of different reasons. The first one she got was with me and my brother's name in a heart— she told me she went to this guy, and they came up with it then and there and she went in with a feeling and came out with something that she didn’t necessarily know that she was going in and getting that specific design. So in the same kind of way, I kind of knew what I was going to get. But the time in my life was really important, and the meaning behind it for sure.

Kate from Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Kate is a student at Fordham University.

What has been your experience with judgment towards tattoos? Is it normally older people who have bias? Kids influenced by their parents, employers, or others?

I think it depends on where I am. When I was back home and working, a lot of the other servers had tattoos, but, depending on who we were serving— they never actually said anything to me, besides one person complimenting them, and he was younger— but then a lot of older people I would see looking at it, and then sizing me up, and just looking but not ever saying anything.

And then, with my parents, the first one they liked, but then the others, they were kind of wondering what the meaning was, and also what I wanted with them. There’s one on my hand, and my mom ended up telling me— because I was going to get it on my left hand, on my middle finger—, she told me that she didn’t think I should get it on my left hand because of my wedding ring, and she didn’t want me to see the tattoo whenever I looked at my wedding ring. I ended up getting it on my right hand.

Do you think there is a generational bias towards tattoos?

I do. One thing I was thinking of, too, is for my specific situation— since my grandpa was in the navy, they feel differently about those kinds of tattoos because he had a naval tattoo, and my brother has one from his naval school, Mass Maritime, and they see that as a service tattoo.

I think culturally, too, it’s different. Definitely with sleeves, and the more prominent tattoos, I don’t think they were raised in the 50s and 60s to have tattoos. I know tattoos weren’t even legal in Massachusetts until [2000]. They were only legal in Rhode Island, so that’s where people would get them, when they were growing up.

Do you feel like you experience this generational bias with your parents?

Yeah, I think that it wasn’t as accepted when they were growing up. I remember my mom telling me one time that tattoos were like “rebellion” when she was growing up, or punk/skater people had tattoos, or, like, a lot of the fishermen did, so it was honestly a symbol of lower status, and I think that has a role in it too. You’re trying to represent yourself, and rebelling against society’s norms.

These days, it’s more of an art form— it’s always been an art form— I don’t think they understand as much why we want them because they were raised thinking they were bad. Or, like, you won’t get a job, also.

Why do you think we— like our generation— accept it more? Do you think social media and pop culture from the 2000s and the 90s contribute to this non-bias?

Personally for my area, it comes from surf/skate culture, and I think that's the same kind of thing with pop culture. More celebrities have tattoos, fine line is more common, and it’s trendy now to do simplistic designs, and people kind of hop on the trend because of social media.

Do you feel like you can be influenced by your friends to get tattoos?

Oh yeah for sure. I mean my brother got two tattoos, and I was like, “Oh that's something I could do.” And I just put it into my mind, and then I was like, “Oh that’s something that I think I might want.” And then I ended up getting one after I decided that’s something I want, but I was definitely influenced by my brother, some of his friends, and my brother’s older friends who had them.

Everyone always talks about how you’re going to regret it. Do you agree with this notion that you will eventually regret your decision?

The ones that I’ve gotten, I got them actually for that reason. My mindset was, “If I end up regretting this I’ll know that I’ve changed.” I never wanted to be an adult that forgot what it felt like to be a young person. I don’t think I would regret it, but it would be like a fond memory.

It’s a symbol, and I feel like it’s hard to regret something that means so much to you. I mean, I could see if you got a tattoo of a taco or something, you might regret that unless you really like tacos. Or [if] you got something that was cute and had zero meaning. Some people get patchwork tattoos, but even that you would still associate it with how you felt and less of what it actually was, because I feel like people get tattoos like that all the time— but it’s not the tattoo, it’s why they got it.

Personally, for you, why did you choose to get tattoos?

I think my first one I wanted to do something that I would remember, and honestly it was as simple as I never wanted to forget what happened in this specific time frame for me. But I wanted to think about it in a positive way. It was less about the actual event, and more about what I wanted to be in the future— I guess [it] really just solidified that in a cool way. Everything being said, they are edgy, in a sense, because they are judged, and you don’t really get one lightly. I feel like that’s part of the package that you’re doing something that you know people don’t like. Even if that’s not your intention when you first get one, it’s still a part of it. I would say that to just to keep the meaning there and never forget the certain emotion, youthful energy, and mindset at the time.

Laura from Lausanne, Switzerland

Laura is an editor in chief within the journalism department at the University of Geneva.

What has your experience with judgment towards tattoos been like? Is it normally older people that have been biased, kids influenced by their parents, employers, or others?

It’s only been by older people, parents mostly. Old, old people— they don’t really look at my tattoos, for example on transports, or just in public where you would expect to be looked at a certain way for having certain things— they don’t care. But the parents hate it.

Why do you think they hate it? Why are they so judgy?

I think, from my experience, it was mostly my friends’ parents, so I feel like it was more about worrying about their kids getting tattoos and me influencing them, more than just me having tattoos.

Do you think they questioned your judgment, your intelligence, who you were as a person because of those tattoos?

Well, my tattoos are not very serious— I have a cat with two heads— so I feel like it could give off that image of me being an unserious person and impulsive and not very smart.

Do you think there is a generational bias towards tattoos?

I think it depends on the people’s surroundings. Personally, my friends, a lot of them want tattoos but don’t get them because of their parents, because they don’t want to disappoint them, and they always have them in mind for that kind of decision— like piercings and tattoos that are normally seen as bad from older generations. So, yes, I think there is a generational bias.

So [for] which generations do you think there is bias? Not our generation, but maybe millennials or before millennials.

I think Baby Boomers are the biggest haters.

We talked a little bit about people’s surroundings, but, going deeper into it, why do you think that, generationally, there is that specific type of bias?

I think maybe because of the rise of the capitalism system we know today that rose in our parents’ time. I think that’s where people started to get a little more serious, and more serious than other generations before them. Because generations before them had the whole hippie movement going on. Whereas our parents were born in a little more serious time, I think. That’s my theory.

Do you think that people in the 90s also would think that way? Or are they generationally just biased towards it because of their culture?

I think that culture definitely plays a part in it, but I think that old, old people are a little less biased than our parents would be because they have a certain wisdom, and they don’t really understand people our age that well because they don’t interact with them as much. So they probably just accept it as, “Oh, they’re just like that, and time has changed.”

Do you agree with the notion that you will eventually regret the decision of getting those tattoos?

Well, I already regret one of them, so technically it has already happened. But, for the ones I have now, I don’t think I am going to regret them.

Why do you regret this one?

Because it wasn’t really thought out. I didn’t really think about what I wanted, and it was very impulsive. But my other tattoos that were more well thought out, I think it’s going to stay that way. I think I’m still going to like them in a few years. I hope so, at least.

And what happens when you’re really really old? Do you think you will still like these ones that you like right now?

Yes, because it’s also a memory in a way. It marks an era in my life where I expressed myself a certain way, and I think it’s pretty cool to look back at this.

So would you say this statement of memories would be your current mindset towards potential future regret? That, even if I regret this, I could never forget it, because it meant something in my life, and it contributed to personal growth?

Yeah, exactly. It was a way to express myself and figure out what I like creatively. And I like them so much now, I don’t really see myself regretting them. I have liked them for a long time now, having had them for years, so I don’t think it’s going to go away like that.

Do you think that friends influence tattoos too? Or did you just, through your evolution of tattoos, be like “No, this is me”? Because it is trendy right now to get them.

I definitely think that friends play a big part in it. It’s kind of the same as culture, because if everyone around you gets tattoos, then you don’t see that much of a big deal about it. And it makes it more “okay,” more normal, more fun.

For you personally, why did you choose to get tattoos?

I think my friend who gave me my first tattoo was a big inspiration for me, because she already had a bunch of tattoos. It was stick and poke, which I also thought was very fun to just do it this way, and not in a professional way. And, I really liked her tattoos, and my older friends’ tattoos, and it definitely contributed to me wanting to get some.

Now that you have your own statement pieces through tattoos, why would you continue to get them?

Some people say it’s kind of addicting, and I agree with that, because when you like your tattoos so much, you want to have more so that you can like your other tattoos the same way. Also, I like to mix styles, and I feel like having one or two tattoos, for example, could give a certain idea about your style, or your creative side. And for me personally, I would want to get more because it would be more of a complete idea of me.

Eve from Beijing, China

Eve is a student in high school. I was not able to speak to her over the phone, so I spoke to her via messaging.

Eve, I’m doing an article for a magazine I'm a part of on Generational Bias towards tattoos. I'd like to interview you on basically how people have reacted towards your tattoos and why it’s such a big deal if you get it. Let me know!

Different people have different reactions, some people will compliment about it and some will say I will regret it because I might no longer like the tattoo anymore, some will tell me they don’t like this flash or something, but to be honest I just don’t [care] about any of that; initially I get tattoos to cover the scars on my arm, but then I just don’t think it’s necessary anymore so I just get whatever [I] want, it makes me happy because I love the feeling of knowing I have control of my body.

Sage McKnead, NYC tattoo artist

@bugpinned on Instagram. I was not able to speak to them over the phone, we spoke via messaging.

What has been your experience amongst your culture when you decided to become a tattoo artist? Have you experienced that certain generations are biased towards tattoos? If so, which generations? How has generational bias towards tattoos changed to you? What does it mean to you to be a tattoo artist and/or have tattoos?

I come from a liberal, privileged, white community, which for me meant that most anyone older than me didn’t approve of tattoos, and anyone my age or younger thought they were the coolest thing. My becoming a tattoo artist was difficult for my parents (they’re in their 50s) and other relatives and friends of that age. We had a lot of long talks about it. They associated tattoos with war veterans and carnys, and were worried that by being a tattoo artist, I would be interacting with people like that. They had never been in a tattoo studio at that point, and didn’t understand that they can be clean, well-lit, and welcoming.

On the other side of things, my sister and all my friends in their 20s were ecstatic. I felt like a celebrity. My friends were so excited to “know a tattoo artist” and suddenly people I had never met were talking about how they couldn’t wait to get tattooed by me.

I’m also active in queer spaces, and among queer people I felt tattoos were more accepted from people of all ages. To me, getting tattooed was a way of taking control of my body and making it a space I wanted to live in when I was struggling so much with gender dysphoria. I think a lot of queer people feel the same way. Society loves to set boundaries and tell us what we can’t do, so being able to take control of something permanent is empowering.

That’s why I started getting tattooed, and what made me keep coming back for more. I like the idea that I can do the same for other people as well. As a trans tattoo artist, I attract a very queer clientele, because people know I’m a safe space. It’s rewarding to see that confidence in taking control of your body when other people are trying to tell you how to exist. And I get to make art every day, and meet cool people! I met my partner through tattooing, and many close friends. I truly feel like I have the greatest job.

Wei, NYC tattoo artist

@w.w.tatt on Instagram.

What has been your experience amongst your culture when you decided to become a tattoo artist?

My culture, they generally don’t like people that have tattoos. It has always been a thing where, in China, people that have tattoos are all gang related. Even during the time when I came to New York in the 90s, for Chinese people that have tattoos, they’re all part of some gang.

In New York, they were a part of gangs?

Back then, yes, when they had a tattoo. They were usually in some group.

During 2006 is when I became a tattoo artist. That’s when I started to experience tattoo machines, and ink and stuff, and tattooing prints. When I went over to my buddy’s home and their family asked me what I did, I said, “Tattoo,” and they just seemed not too happy that their kid was hanging with me. I think it’s the image that they have for the artist, and people that get tattoos, people coming in to get tattoos.

There’s this kind of bias of “my kid shouldn’t be influenced by somebody who gives tattoS.”

Yeah, and in the tattoo society— I mean, back in the day, definitely not now—, it’s more of a gang thing. And the people that are going to be in the tattoo shop are usually the people that most of the people don’t like because they’re in some certain group. I’m not saying that they’re bad people, it’s just the image. I guess that’s my experience among the culture.

In this previous question, we did talk about generational bias to an extent, but do you mind going further into that? What generations do you think are mainly biased towards tattoos?

I’d say my old man’s generation and people around that group age or older, I’d assume. Like how your family was pretty against the first tattoo, when I got my first tattoo, I came back home and my old man took out his butcher knife and was like, “What, you want to be a gangster?” So, I had to run away for a little bit and wait for him to calm down a little to, you know, head back.

I think about my old man, back then, before I came to the United States, me and my old man in China. My old man woke up at three in the morning, we had people knocking on our door like three in the morning. They came in with the whole group just to get stitched up. There was a lot of fighting going on back in the day. My old man, he was also a doctor in China, back then. It was private, we were not in the hospital, but we did have a shop where people came in to get check-ups and stuff like that. Those types of images, I guess, make the older generation feel [bad about tattoos].

It’s not so much, “What have you done to your body?” and more like, “Who have you become affiliated with?”

Yeah, pretty much. Also, back then, tattoos were not like the tattoos that are going on right now, like fine lines and flowers and stuff. It was more something that’s more traditional— dragons, and things that’s more in the darker side.

Has the generational bias changed now? For instance, your parents, now that they’ve seen it’s more common now, has their bias changed, or is it the same?

I think they changed. But, if you want them to get a tattoo, they’ll probably still say no to it. Maybe some will. I mean, right now I’ve been convincing my old man like, “Hey do you want a sleeve? I’ll give you a sleeve.” But now we kind of joke around. It definitely changed a little bit. It’s still not going to change how they really see them, you know, back in the day from their experience.

What does it mean to be a tattoo artist and/or have tattoos?

Nothing special, I’d say in particular, on my end. I mean I see myself as an everyday artist at work and trying to make a living, that’s all, by doing what I love and since I like drawing, you know. And, I have an art background and I definitely enjoy tattooing. It does mean a lot that I see my clients happy about the process and the end result, the satisfaction that they show. In a way, I do feel accomplished.

Through these interviews, I felt a sort of relief that a multitude of people have shared similar experiences to me. I appreciate how everyone has a story that comes with their tattoos. Getting one starts a conversation, whether it be positive or negative, that allows each person to accept and acknowledge that not everyone will appreciate the way they express themselves.

As an Iranian-American, I have experienced bias from both sides of my family, whether it is a blunt, “Why did you get that? There are health issues related to tattoos,” or just a simple, but oddly petty, joke that obviously isn’t a joke. I have learned that, at this point, it doesn’t matter what the people around you think— no matter how close they are to you. As long as you feel you are expressing yourself the way you want, then what is generational bias, anyways?

Generational Bias Towards Tattoos

Can from Istanbul, Turkey

Can is a student at Fordham University.

In general, what has your experience been with judgment towards your tattoos? Is it just normally older people, kids influenced by their parents, employers, or anything else you can think of?

Just in America, or also back in Turkey?

What about your family? How did they react? Do they have tattoos as well?

Even with your internship [there has or hasn’t been judgment]?

Do you think there is a generational bias towards tattoos?

Turkey is predominantly Muslim, correct?

So how do they react to tattoos?

Why do you think that generationally there is a specific type of bias?

So this big thing, where people say you’re going to regret it. Do you agree with the notion that you’re going to regret it?

How do you think you’ll feel when you regret it? You’re not going to get bored of them, but would you feel anything else?

Other than personal reasons for getting them, why did you start choosing to get tattoos?

Do you think influence is a big thing? You said you were influenced by your friend. Do you think that’s why a lot of people get tattoos now?

Andres from Mexico City, Mexico

Andres is a student at Fordham University. He does not have any tattoos.

What has it been like observing friends, acquaintances, and others who experience bias from having tattoos, especially in Mexico?

If this person from this certain demographic had a very different style and lived in a nicer part of the city, would they be judged, do you think?

Do you think the primary religion [Catholicism] has anything to do with it?

Our generation, especially in Mexico, the people your age, the friends and stuff who get tattoos, who are just as religious and just as cultural— why do you think they don’t follow that? Is it too old, custom-wise?

Personally, what are your opinions on tattoos?

Do you have anything else you want to add?

Do you think generationally people are not used to it?

Ava from Los Angeles, California

Ava is an NYU Gallatin Student.

How old was your mom when she got her first tattoo?

How has her family, especially the Persian side, reacted?

For you, what has it been like observing that bias?

Would you get a tattoo?

I’m assuming you do think there is one, but, do you think there is generational bias?

Which generations do you think really contribute [to this bias]?

With this generational thing, they always say you are going to regret your decision. Do you agree with this?

Even though you don’t agree with— and I really like that, “You can’t live and regret,” people forget that— what is your current mindset towards future potential regret?

For you personally, why did you choose to get tattoos? Were you inspired by your mom?

Kate from Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Kate is a student at Fordham University.

What has been your experience with judgment towards tattoos? Is it normally older people who have bias? Kids influenced by their parents, employers, or others?

Do you think there is a generational bias towards tattoos?

Do you feel like you experience this generational bias with your parents?

Why do you think we— like our generation— accept it more? Do you think social media and pop culture from the 2000s and the 90s contribute to this non-bias?

Do you feel like you can be influenced by your friends to get tattoos?

Everyone always talks about how you’re going to regret it. Do you agree with this notion that you will eventually regret your decision?

Personally, for you, why did you choose to get tattoos?

Laura from Lausanne, Switzerland

Laura is an editor in chief within the journalism department at the University of Geneva.

What has your experience with judgment towards tattoos been like? Is it normally older people that have been biased, kids influenced by their parents, employers, or others?

Why do you think they hate it? Why are they so judgy?

Do you think they questioned your judgment, your intelligence, who you were as a person because of those tattoos?

Do you think there is a generational bias towards tattoos?

So [for] which generations do you think there is bias? Not our generation, but maybe millennials or before millennials.

We talked a little bit about people’s surroundings, but, going deeper into it, why do you think that, generationally, there is that specific type of bias?

Do you think that people in the 90s also would think that way? Or are they generationally just biased towards it because of their culture?

Do you agree with the notion that you will eventually regret the decision of getting those tattoos?

Why do you regret this one?

And what happens when you’re really really old? Do you think you will still like these ones that you like right now?

So would you say this statement of memories would be your current mindset towards potential future regret? That, even if I regret this, I could never forget it, because it meant something in my life, and it contributed to personal growth?

Do you think that friends influence tattoos too? Or did you just, through your evolution of tattoos, be like “No, this is me”? Because it is trendy right now to get them.

For you personally, why did you choose to get tattoos?

Now that you have your own statement pieces through tattoos, why would you continue to get them?

Eve from Beijing, China

Eve is a student in high school. I was not able to speak to her over the phone, so I spoke to her via messaging.

Eve, I’m doing an article for a magazine I'm a part of on Generational Bias towards tattoos. I'd like to interview you on basically how people have reacted towards your tattoos and why it’s such a big deal if you get it. Let me know!

Sage McKnead, NYC tattoo artist

@bugpinned on Instagram. I was not able to speak to them over the phone, we spoke via messaging.

Wei, NYC tattoo artist

@w.w.tatt on Instagram.

What has been your experience amongst your culture when you decided to become a tattoo artist?

In New York, they were a part of gangs?

There’s this kind of bias of “my kid shouldn’t be influenced by somebody who gives tattoS.”

In this previous question, we did talk about generational bias to an extent, but do you mind going further into that? What generations do you think are mainly biased towards tattoos?

It’s not so much, “What have you done to your body?” and more like, “Who have you become affiliated with?”

Has the generational bias changed now? For instance, your parents, now that they’ve seen it’s more common now, has their bias changed, or is it the same?

What does it mean to be a tattoo artist and/or have tattoos?