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College Students’ Perception of Tattoos

HSB4U Independent Study Unit

College Students’ Perceptions of Tattoos

Amanda Chin Yih Tyng & Bette Chia Hooi Ping

Challenge and Change in Society - Period 2


Table of Contents

Description Page

I. Table of Contents 2

II. Introduction 3

III. Methods 14

IV. Results 19

V. Discussion 31

VI. References 41

2


Introduction

This study on college students’ perception of tattoos was carried out by Amanda Chin

Yih Tyng and Bette Chia Hooi Ping for our Independent Study Unit for Mr. Joel Cressman’s

period two Challenge and Change in Society class in the Canadian Pre-University programme

at Taylor’s College. We would like to thank Mr. Cressman for his support and advice as we

carried out our Independent Study Unit. We are also grateful to our Challenge and Change

classmates for providing meaningful and applicable feedback, and for their unrelenting

encouragement.

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a. Reason for research

Tattoos are our topic of choice. We are fascinated by their permanence, and how they

carry such deep meaning for some, yet are results of a moment of impulse for others. It also

interests us how they are seen both as a form of art and a taboo in our contemporary world.

We think that tattoos fit into the disciplines of sociology and anthropology. Sociology, the

study of the development of human society and how it works, is an area that tattoos

correspond to as it looks at how social trends, such as tattoos, can affect individuals, families,

and communities. For example, many see body art as an identifier of criminal activity

(Ashworth, 2013), and those who obtain tattoos may become stigmatised by the society they

reside within (Williams, Thomas, & Christensen, 2014). On the other hand, anthropology

examines culture and its physical and social characteristics. In some cultures, tattoos are a rite

of passage, worn as marks of honour and pride, and used to represent one’s status in their

community.

Tattoos are a social trend. A social trend can be defined as an aspect of culture that is

popular amongst many people (Parker, 2011). In today’s world, an increasing number of

individuals are choosing to acquire tattoos, and it is becoming a social norm. Through our

research, we discovered that the world’s oldest tattoos belong to Ötzi, an European Tyrolean

Iceman who was buried beneath an Alpine glacier after his death around 3250 B.C. (Scallan,

2015), reiterating the idea that the culture of marking your skin with ink has existed for

millennia. We have also learned that to date, in Ancient Egypt, only female mummies have

been found with tattoos, which has lead some scholars to think that it was solely a female

practice (Lineberry, 2007). This is a stark contrast to the culture surrounding tattoos in our

contemporary society, where they are more associated with masculinity (Moorthy,

Gunasekaram & Asmuje, 2015). Additionally, there have been cases where tattoos are used to

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help facilitate therapy, as seen on the Spike network television show, ‘Ink Shrinks’ (Meinert,

2015).

However, it is imperative to recognize that tattoos carry their own risks. The required

use of needles to inject ink into the skin means that if the needles used are not sterilized, the

danger of the occurrence of health issues such as skin cancer, infections, and HIV increases

exponentially (K, 2014). In addition to that, some of the inks used in the tattooing process are

capable of causing allergic reactions (Michelle, 2014), further heightening the chances of the

individual who is obtaining the tattoo contracting a variety of illnesses, If one wishes to

remove their tattoo, the different methods of removal can result in adverse effects (Kluger,

2015). The social stigma surrounding tattoos should also give one reason to pause. Many see

tattoos as a signifier of deviance, connecting them with rebellion and criminal activity (Park,

2015), and though a person might not necessarily acquire a tattoo because of the negative

perception surrounding it (Proehl, 2004), they will undoubtedly be associated with a deviant

image by the majority of society. Moreover, having visible tattoos could be an impediment to

one’s likeliness of securing employment (Lim, Ting, Leo, & Jayanthy, 2013).

We will use the information we have gathered on body ink to pose questions to

college students regarding their views on tattoos, and look to discover if they view tattoos as

more than just designs inked into one’s skin. Additionally, we want to find out what

teenagers today think of the general society’s perception of tattoos. We plan to study if the

availability of job opportunities play a factor when people consider obtaining tattoos. We also

want to see if the likelihood of people acquiring tattoos is influenced by the risks that the

tattooing process carries, and the inefficient nature of tattoo removal procedures in the case of

regret over a piece of body art.

b. Research question and Hypothesis

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Research question: Do tattoos give college students a perception of deviance, or are they seen

as a meaningful form of self-expression?

Hypothesis: College students perceive tattoos as a sign of deviance.

Our hypothesis is that college students perceive tattoos as a sign of deviance.

Deviance, the state of deviating from accepted or conventional standards, has been associated

with tattoos for countless generations, albeit through extremely polarised and unfavourable

lenses. We believe that the older generation’s negative association of tattoos to deviant social

behaviors, such as gang culture and committing criminal acts, is passed down to their

offspring, leaving them with a similar perspective. Parents are also likely to warn their

children against acquiring tattoos, citing examples of the prejudices society has against those

with visible body art. However, there has been growing acceptance amongst the post-

millennial generation of those who choose to permanently mark themselves with ink.

Nevertheless, due to its status as an Islamic nation and location in the South-East Asian

region, we think that the cultural orientation of the country we are in, Malaysia, will influence

our findings. As such, we wish to discover if tattoos give college students a perception of

deviance, or if they see them as a meaningful form of self-expression.

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c. Literature Review

Tattoos are a type of body modification, in the form of ink markings on the skin.

Throughout history, tattoos have been viewed and understood in many different lights,

depending on one’s societal context- They have been a rite of passage, a mark of the deviant,

a sign of one’s spiritual devotion, and an indicator of status. More recently, tattoos have

emerged as a profound form of creative self-expression beyond impermanent fashion, as well

as a repository of memories and a site of affirmations (Leader, 2015). However, there is still a

strong stigma surrounding body ink, with the older generation pushing an unfavourable

perception of tattoos to their children. They bolster the stereotype of tattoos as a marker of

deviance, connecting them to individuals who participate in abhorrent matters such as

criminal activity and gang violence. It is important to note that this prejudice does not truly

reflect the academic definition of deviance, which is “the state of deviating from accepted or

conventional standards” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016). Irregardless, the media has played an

immense role in relation to the state of the publicity of tattoos in modern society (Walzer &

Sanjurjo, 2016). They have perpetuated how having a tattoo makes one look “cool”, as it

mirrors the famous, some who have tattoos themselves. Given that today’s college students

have been brought up with these conflicting viewpoints, it is of interest to determine whether

tattoos give them a perception of deviance, or if they are seen as a meaningful form of self-

expression.

There are various reasons why people choose to get body modifications, and the

majority of them are personally meaningful (Williams, Thomas, & Christensen, 2014). Some

people use tattoos to express who they are, what they have lived through, and how they see

themselves in relation to others and to their social worlds (Kang & Jones, 2007). Most who

choose to get inked have a design in mind beforehand, or confer with their tattoo artist to

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decide on, or even create, a pattern that suits and represents them that also conveys their

intended message. With such time and detail devoted to choosing the most fitting design, it is

obvious that tattoos have emerged as an impactful form of creative self-expression beyond

impermanent fashion, as well as a repository of memories and a site of affirmations (Leader,

2015). Tattoos are influential symbols of identity due to their connotation in the greater social

formation and their social perceptions (Gracia-Merritt, 2014). Adding to their significance is

that every individual perceives them and their meaning differently. The social acceptance of

tattooing and body modification varies, with it being highly based on social and geographical

context- And it is the social context in which a person resides that is foremost in determining

society’s view of his or her tattoos.

It is important to understand the consequences of acquiring a tattoo (McGriff, 2015),

because despite body modifications having become more common in the last few decades,

there is still stigmatism regarding people with them (Williams, Thomas, & Christensen,

2014). As previously stated, the negative perception of the older generation towards tattoos,

and body modification in general, is still prevalent in this day and age. Their scrutiny of those

with body art can have adverse effects on said individuals, and those with visible ink suffer

the brunt of judgement from strangers, who have their own preconceived opinions about body

art. This contributes to there being both internal and external impressions and influences that

connect to one’s remorse over obtaining a tattoo or other body art, despite there being

independence in the actual decision and acquisition (Joyce, Tammy, & Kiser, 2015). Notably,

health worries, inadequate sources, and issues of permanency are the main reasons why non-

tattooed college students abstain from getting tattooed (Dickson, Dukes, Smith, & Strapko,

2015).

As a result, in spite of the widespread nature of tattoos in today’s world, students who

are interested in getting tattoos know that they must cover them up in the workplace, and

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even though students think tattoos may prevent them from getting a job, many are still

considering getting one (Foltz, 2014). It is interesting to note that outside influences play a

critical role in the decision of college students to get inked, with some of the most compelling

external reasons in their resolutions to tattoo being social stigmas, peer and parental pressure,

and health considerations (Tse, Firmin, Angelini, & Foster, 2012). This may be in part

influenced by the fact that many employers dislike people with tattoos, and having visible

tattoos may actually prevent one from obtaining a job (Caster, 2015). Almost all of the

references in Caster’s study emphasise this, stating that with the high competition we face in

our contemporary society, if an employer were to choose between a man covered in tattoos,

but who holds two degrees, and a man who only has one degree but does not have body art,

the man with no tattoos would have a higher chance of getting employed.

Nonetheless, college students who have tattoos do not have any remorse about getting

them, and only get their first tattoo after much deliberation (Dickson, Dukes, Smith, &

Strapko, 2015). In the study by Dickson, Dukes, Smith, and Strapko (2015), the process of

getting a tattoo and its meaning was examined among 195 tattooed and 257 non-tattooed

undergraduates. One hundred and ninety-five (43.1%) of the respondents had one or more

tattoos, and at 46.1%, more women had tattoos than men. In the study, 38 people (19.7%)

who took part acquired their first tattoo before the age of 18. Of those, 11 (71.1%) did so with

parental permission, and of the 22 respondents who had two or more family members with a

tattoo, 81.8% were allowed obtain one by their parents. It is important to keep in mind,

however, that these numbers are not statistically significant due to the small number of cases,

in spite of the large statistic divide. A 2012 Harris poll reported that 38% of respondents aged

30-39, 30% of those aged 25-29, and 22% of those aged 18 to 24 have one or more tattoos

(Braverman, 2012). Several smaller studies indicate that about 20% of people, aged 18-25,

have a tattoo (Armstrong, 2005), and studies with college students show similar rates (Forbes,

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2001; Home, Knox, Zusman, & Zusman, 2007; Manuel & Sheehan, 2007; Resenhoeft, Villa,

& Wiseman, 2008). Based on these statistics, it can be said that more and more young adults

are obtaining body ink. Among a group of adult respondents, tattooed individuals say that

having their tattoo makes them feel more sexy (30%), rebellious (25%), attractive (21%),

strong (21%), and spiritual (16%) (Braverman, 2012).

Brian Miller, a professor of management at Texas State University who conducted a

study investigating the disadvantages of personal expression through body art, stated that

prejudices, stigmatization, and stereotyping in the workplace can be brought on by tattoos

(Jennifer, 2016). The discrimination against those with tattoos is born from longstanding

connection of body ink to adversity, such as those who go against the law, or are involved in

gang culture. Tattoos are also affiliated with those of a lower social class, due to their relation

with seamen, who would tattoo themselves after an expedition, and slaves, who were marked

to discourage escape. These views have been carried over to the present day, albeit to a lesser

extent, and it is most obvious in the working world. Many jobs, especially those in the public

service industry, have strict aesthetic regulations regarding tattoos. Visible tattoos, for

example, are not allowed (or are only allowed under certain guidelines) in fields such as

teaching, forest service, or certain military/police operations. (Lianchic, 2009). It is

inevitable that almost everyone, including those who hire you, will scrutinise you, and form

their first impression of you based on the presence of body modifications on your body. It is a

reality that the working society will make judgements of you and give you additional

difficulties due to you having a tattoo.

In order to avoid creating a business faux pas, students today who choose to express

themselves follow a prevailing corporate tattoo policy and analyze the area of their tattoo

placement so as to not be discriminated against (Foltz, 2014). It was revealed that two out of

five students have a type of body art (Lipscomb, Jones, & Totten, 2008), showing that despite

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being aware of the stigmatisation surrounding body modification, students are still willing to

express themselves through the alteration of their bodies. A study conducted in 2009 revealed

that almost half of the students surveyed were split, with 32.51% stating they did think body

art would prohibit someone from being hired with the remaining 20% having no opinion.

Additionally, researchers found almost 9% of students surveyed had tattoos and that, not

surprisingly, the students with body art would be more favorable to seeing tattoos in the

workplace (Dale, Bevill, Roach, Glasgow, & Bracy, 2009).

One must keep in mind that there are not only social repercussions when acquiring a

tattoo, but physical risks as well. There are many inflammatory reactions due to the trauma of

the skin that comes in contact with the needles whilst going through the process of tattooing,

and there is a possibility of skin diseases occurring on the tattooed area (Khunger, 2015).

Being stuck with needles over and over again for an extended period of time not only hurts,

but is risky as well. Getting a tattoo can put you at certain risks, such as contracting a variety

of illness ranging from a bacterial infection to HIV (K, 2014). Furthermore, tattoo inks have

many hazards that can harm the body just by coming into contact with it (Iwegbue, 2016).

Merely coming into contact with these metal pigmentation components can cause metal-

related skin inflammation, allergies, eczemas, and granulomatous reactions. Moreover, if one

wishes to get their tattoo removed, it is a lengthy and arduous procedure. If you desire a

tattoo, and if you were to want to remove it later on, the process will not be enjoyable. Just

because you appreciate tattoos does not mean that everyone else does, and this includes your

potential employers, strangers on the street, and acquaintances (Lianchic, 2009). These are

among the factors one must consider when getting a tattoo, and in the context of college

students, many whom are on a limited budget, the risks and costs of getting inked may

outweigh the benefits of this form of self-expression.

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Forms of body modification appear to be perceived in a more negative light in an

Asian context, especially when compared to American and European views. Here in

Malaysia, data shows that many of the people view the practices of body piercing and

tattooing as an embodiment of the dark, self-expression, a means of memorializing

meaningful memories and moments, spirituality, and a form of art. However, when around

those with tattoos and body piercings, there was a level of discomfort among the majority of

those who participated in the research (Lim, Ting, Leo, & Jayanthy, 2013). Employment

opportunities are a universal aspect considered when discussing body modifications, with an

emphasis on tattoos, and much of the contemplation surrounding the choice to have a tattoo

has relations to this factor. Aside from this, those who participated in Moorthy, Gunasekaram

& Asmuje’s research gave several reasons for getting tattoos, among them being

individuality, fortune, music, love, clubs, religious beliefs, and as body decorations. The

influence of religious views in Malaysia on tattooing correlate to the results of the research

carried out (Moorthy, Gunasekaram & Asmuje, 2015)- Permanent tattooing is prohibited in

Islam, and as such, the predominant Malays are against it.

In conclusion, it is evident that the social contexts in which people inhibit shape the

responses and interpretations of their tattoos by others (Kang & Jones, 2007). Evidence

shows that the moral boundaries of tattoos differ along various dimensions, such as

situational, subcultural, and familial, and because of this, people with tattoos find themselves

interacting with both the deviant and conventional sides of these oral boundaries, and these

intercommunications can themselves work to change the moral boundaries (Proehl, 2004). As

the result of the endeavors of moral entrepreneurs, cultural diffusion, and persons who are

indifferent to other’s opinions, there has been an expansion in the moral boundaries of

tattoos. It is interesting to note that when contrasted with later studies that we reviewed, there

is a visible change in the attitude towards tattoos, with the previous statement ringing true in

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much of the more recent research. The majority of the aforementioned research was

published in the past five years, making them relatively up-to-date and reliable. However, as

the majority of the research that we looked at at is based in Western-oriented countries, the

findings may not apply to Malaysia, an Asian-oriented country, as there is still a considerable

gap between Asian-oriented and Western-oriented countries in terms of culture and mindset.

As such, we think that the unfavourable view of tattoos, so strongly advocated by the older

generation, has been successfully passed down to the millennial generation, and though there

are those who deviate from the norm, we feel that college students perceive tattoos as a

deviance.

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Methods

a. Release

The survey was released on the 29th of April, 2016 and closed on the 10th of May,

2016. We published a link in the CPU@Taylor’s group, which is made up of college students

and faculty from the Canadian Pre-University programme, enabling us to broadcast the

survey to the target group of college students. In addition to that, we posted it in our

Challenge and Change’s Google Classroom group, requesting the assistance of our peers to

complete the survey. We also messaged our college-going friends personally on messaging

applications such as WhatsApp, and asked for their help in filling up our survey. We

encouraged our friends to share the survey with their college friends as well, allowing us to

reach a broader group of people.

b. Survey questions

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Results

a. Demographics

We prepared a total of five demographic questions for our participants to answer, with

three multiple-choice questions and two textbox response questions. We required our

participants to identify their gender, age, religion, nationality, and if they currently had

tattoos, as we believed that these would be essential factors when analysing our results. We

managed to garner 76 responses over a period of 12 days. Of the 76, when asked to state

their gender, 44 (57.1%) identified as female, 32 (41.6%) as male, and one individual (1.3%)

identified as non-binary. Age wise, we had 68 participants who were in the age range of 17-

20 and those that remained fell between the ages of 21-24. In the case of religious beliefs, we

had 24 (31.2%) Christians, 20 (26%) Buddhists, 10 (13%) atheists, nine (11.7%) Muslims,

six (7.8%) Hindus and eight (10.4%) people who were of miscellaneous religions. When it

came to nationality, 60 respondents (78.9%) stated that they were Malaysian, making them

the overwhelming majority of our participants. Lastly, we enquired if they presently had body

ink. More than half (88.3%) answered negatively, but we had four (5.2%) respondents who

did have tattoos, and five (6.5%) who had more than one tattoo.

b. Survey results

Our survey was completed by 76 individuals. Forty-four (57.9%) of our survey

respondents were female, 31 (40.8%) were male, with one (1.3%) identifying as non-binary.

75 participants gave serious answers when asked for their age, with one person’s results

subtracted due to their illogical response. As our survey was focused on college students, the

average age of our respondents was 18.9. When asked to state their religion, most of our

respondents identified as Christian (31.6%). The next highest group were Buddhist (26.3%),

and the third highest participants were Muslims and Atheists (11.8%). See Figure 1 for a

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more detailed breakdown of the religions of our respondents. When asked for their

nationality, at 78.9%, the overwhelming majority of our participants stated that they were

Malaysian. Lastly, when we enquired if they currently had tattoos, the predominant response

was no at 88.2% (see Figure 2).

Figure 1: The religious groups of our participants.

Figure 2: The presence of tattoos on our participants.

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A series of 15 non-demographic questions were prepared for our respondents, which

were a mix of 5 point ordinal scale questions, multiple choice questions, and checkbox

questions. Out of those 15, we chose nine that we deemed interesting to analyse.

We asked our respondents if they thought that how people with tattoos are accepted

depends on whether they live in Asian or Western oriented societies (Kang & Jones, 2007),

and 32 people agreed with this statement. At 13.2%, 10 respondents strongly agreed, and 22

respondents (36.8%) remained neutral on the subject. Two people (2.6%) disagreed with our

statement, and four (5.3%) strongly disagreed (see Figure 3).

We also enquired if they thought that people refrain from getting tattoos because of

society's view of tattoos (Tse, Firmin, Angelini, & Foster, 2012), with the majority (43.4%)

of our participants stating that they agreed. Five people (21.1%) strongly agreed, 25% chose

to remain neutral on the topic, six individuals (7.9%) disagreed, and two (2.6%) strongly

disagreed (see Figure 4).

Another question that we posed to our target group was if those with tattoos are

portrayed as social outcasts (Rebellious, members of gangs, more likely to commit crimes)

(Jennifer, 2016). The responses were mainly split between the 23.7% who strongly disagreed

and the 30.3% who agreed with the statement. Ten respondents (13.2%) disagreed, 15

(19.7%) were not inclined either way, and at 13.2%, five people strongly agreed (see Figure

5).

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Figure 5: Those with tattoos are portrayed as social outcasts (Rebellious, members of gangs,

more likely to commit crimes) (Jennifer, 2016).

Additionally, we enquired if college students think about the consequences of having

a tattoo before getting one (Dickson, Dukes, Smith, & Strapko, 2015). Twenty-six of our

respondents (34.2%) were neutral on the subject, while 27.6% and 13.2% were inclined

towards agreeing and strongly agreeing respectively. On the other end of the scale, 14

(18.4%) persons disagreed, and five (6.6%) strongly disagreed (see Figure 6).

We were curious to find out if college students thought that a person's chances of

getting a job affected their decision to get a tattoo (Lim, Ting, Leo & Jayanthy,

2013).Twenty-six (34.2%) of our participants agreed with the remark, with 19 (25%) strongly

agreeing. 24 (31.6%) had no particular inclination on the subject, while five (6.6%)

disagreed, and two (2.6%) strongly disagreed with the statement (see Figure 7).

Figure 7: A person's chances of getting a job affects their decision to get a tattoo (Lim, Ting,

Leo & Jayanthy, 2013).

We asked the participants of our survey if they were interested in getting a tattoo

(Walzer & Sanjurjo, 2016). At 55.3%, the majority of them answered “yes”. Fourteen

(18.4%) people responded with “maybe”, while 20 (26.3%) were firmly against it, answering

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“No” (see Figure 8). In relation to the previous question, we examined what factors would

influence respondents’ decision to get a tattoo (Joyce, Tammy, & Kiser, 2015). Sixty-three

(82.9%) selected “meaning” as a determinant, with design being an element for 39 (51.3%)

participants (see Figure 9). Inversely, when asked what factors would influence their decision

to not get a tattoo (Dickson, Dukes, Smith, & Strapko, 2015), the possibility of regret

(60.5%), chances of employment (48.7%), and health risks (40.8%) were the top three

reasons chosen by our respondents (see Figure 10).

Figure 9: Factors that influence respondents’ decision to get a tattoo.

The last question in our survey asked participants for their opinion of tattoos. Forty-

six (60.5%) viewed it as “a social trend that is here to stay”, and 24 (31.6%) saw tattoos as “a

social challenge that must be resolved”. Six (7.9%) dismissed tattoos as “a social fad that will

be disregarded in time” (see Figure 11).

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Figure 3: How people with tattoos are accepted depends on whether they live in Asian or

Western oriented societies (Kang & Jones, 2007).

Figure 4: People refrain from getting tattoos because of society's view of tattoos (Tse, Firmin,

Angelini, & Foster, 2012).

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Figure 6: College students think about the consequences of having a tattoo before getting one

(Dickson, Dukes, Smith, & Strapko, 2015).

Figure 8: Respondents’ interest in getting a tattoo.

Figure 10: Factors that influence respondents’ decision to not get a tattoo.

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Figure 11: Participants’ opinions of tattoos.

c. Comparison data

From our survey, we chose three key pieces of data that we thought to be the most

intriguing. When we asked our respondents for their opinion on tattoos and compared this to

the presence of tattoos on their bodies, we discovered that 44 of those who did not have

tattoos perceived tattoos as a social trend that is here to stay. However, it must be noted that

the majority of our participants (88.3%) do not have tattoos. Twenty of those who do not

have body ink are of the mind that tattoos are a social challenge that must be resolved.

Interestingly, six respondents who have tattoos also agree with the statement, with them

giving the most respondents out of all tattooed participants. Four of our respondents who are

not tattooed think that it is a social fad that will be disregarded in time (see Figure 1).

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Figure 1: The respondents’ opinions on tattoos viewed against their ownership of tattoos.

We looked at the opinion of the participants towards whether those with tattoos are

portrayed as social outcasts, correlating this to their religious beliefs. We learned that while

eight Buddhists disagree with this statement, 11 Christians agreed with the perception, with

the coefficient of determination R^2 having a value of 0.0682. Christians also proved to have

the most neutral opinion when posed with the statement, with five of them responding as

such. Additionally, there was no particular religion that strongly agreed that people with

tattoos are portrayed as social outcasts. However, unlike Buddhists, no one religious group

disagreed strongly or disagreed with the statement (see Figure 2).

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Figure 2: Participants’ response to whether those with tattoos are seen as social outcasts.

As mentioned previously, most of our respondents do not currently have tattoos, and

22 of them responded neutrally when asked if people choose tattoo designs more for their

appearance than because they are personally meaningful. On the other hand, three of our

participants who do have a tattoo agree that aesthetics influence the choice of design more

than a tattoo’s possible meaning, shedding some light on their reasoning for acquiring their

tattoo. Two participants with more more than one tattoo also think that people choose tattoo

designs more for the way they look than because they hold a certain meaning (see Figure 3).

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Figure 3: Respondents’ views on people choosing tattoo designs more for the way they look

than because they hold a certain meaning.

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Discussion

2. Our original hypothesis was that college students perceive tattoos as a sign of

deviance. However, it was inconclusive, with primary reasons such as the overly indirect

nature of the survey questions and the contrast between college students’ personal views and

perception of what is socially acceptable contributing to the aforementioned ambivalence.

Our survey questions were too vague, and as a result participants may not have

understood their meaning. Several of our queries garnered high ambiguous answers, with

respondents choosing to neither agree or disagree with the statement provided, and we could

possibly have acquired more diverse results if the wording of our questions had been simpler

and more straightforward. Beyond this, the indirectness of our statements may have resulted

in them becoming leading questions, which would have affected the way our participants

responded to the questions. For example, the statement that those with visible tattoos are less

likely to be employed, even if they are qualified for the job (Caster, 2015) already implies

that the odds of employment are against those with tattoos that can be seen. As such, the

contradicting answers of our participants could be attributed in part to the impreciseness of

our questions.

The conflict regarding our respondent’s personal vision of tattoos and what they deem

to be socially acceptable was a deciding aspect in our survey. When asked if people choose

tattoo designs more for the way they look than because they hold a certain meaning (Park,

2015), 22 (28.6%) agreed that individuals did do so. However, 64 (83.1%) of the same survey

group cited meaning as a factor that would influence their own decision to obtain body ink.

We are lead to summarise that though college students may personally consider meaning to

be an important point to regard when discussing tattoos, they still largely conform to the

“herd mentality” of society, which paints tattoos as a social taboo, especially in Asian-

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oriented countries. Thus, when asked about tattoos in relation to other people, they may

choose to answer in a particular way as to conform to the larger community, but when put in

a personal context, they are more comfortable responding with their personal perceptions.

We can conclude that there are areas of our Independent Study Unit which should

have been better done, and would have contributed to the overall effectiveness of our survey.

Despite this, we feel that our survey garnered interesting results, and showed how college

students are influenced by both the longstanding stigmas surrounding tattoos and the effects

of globalisation, which has changed their mindset of what is traditionally seen as socially

acceptable and what is not. As such, we think that college students see tattoos as a form of

deviance when discussed in the context of society, but personally view them as a meaningful

form of self-expression.

3. The research question that we formed was if tattoos gave college students a

perception of deviance, or if they were seen as a meaningful form of self-expression. It was

not answered with our survey, with determinants including the longstanding stereotypes

surrounding those with tattoos, transculturation, the Asian-oriented nationalities of

participants, respondents’ religious beliefs, and the difference in viewpoint regarding tattoos

when in relation to oneself and others influencing the participants’ responses.

Among the factors that affected our participants’ answers were the enduring

stereotypes regarding tattooed individuals and transculturation. Society’s negative attitude

towards those with tattoos has endured for centuries, and through our survey we found that

the post-millennial generation are aware of the prejudices surrounding body ink. Out of 76

respondents, 34 (44.2%) agreed that people refrain from getting tattoos because of society's

view of tattoos (Tse, Firmin, Angelini, & Foster, 2012), revealing that college students are

aware that the social taboos of society remain a significant factor in one’s decision-making

31


process. However, transculturation has emerged as a defining influence in college students’

lives, with exposure to Western culture influencing their mindsets and attitudes. It is this

more accepting mindset that we perceive to have impacted their notion regarding body ink

(Leader, 2015), with 47 (61%) of them thinking of tattoos as a social trend that is here to stay,

in contrast to the 24 (31.2%) who view it as a social challenge that must be resolved. We can

interpret that transculturation has affected the view of some college students in regards to the

deviant opinion of tattoos, though the classic molds created about those with tattoos are still

strongly held by many in this Asian region.

Additionally, the overwhelming number of our respondents were from Asian sectors

of the world, and we believe that their religious beliefs were instrumental aspects in their

answers. Those who come from Asia are generally more conservative when it comes to

subjects that are regarded as taboo, and body ink is predominantly seen as one of them. With

68 of our participants identifying themselves as Asians from countries such as Malaysia,

Myanmar, and Korea, their responses show that they are aware of the social stigmas

surrounding tattoos. 32 (41.6%) of them agreed and 11 (14.3%) strongly agreed when we

posed the statement “How people with tattoos are accepted depends on whether they live in

Asian or Western oriented societies” (Kang & Jones, 2007), making their knowledge of their

cultural anathemas known. This has correlation to our respondents’ religious beliefs, as

predominant religions such as Christianity and Islamism prohibiting the act of inking one’s

skin. With 24 (31.2%) Christian, 20 (26%) Buddhist, and 10 (13%) atheist respondents as the

three primary religious groups found in our survey, we have no doubt that they were in some

part influenced by their religion when giving their responses. The opinion of our respondents

regarding whether those with tattoos are portrayed as social outcasts (Jennifer, 2016) was

compared to their religious beliefs, and it was found that 11 of the 24 (31.2%) participants

who agreed with the statement identified as Christian, while eight of the 18 (23.4%) who

32


strongly disagreed were Buddhist. Evidently, the geographical location of residence and the

influence of religion swayed the way participants responded to our survey questions, and

their different perception of tattoos in different contexts had a part in this as well.

It is the difference in viewpoint regarding tattoos in relation to oneself and others that

we think plays a pivotal role in the answers given by our respondents. When thought of in the

context of the greater public, the majority of our respondents separated themselves and their

personal feelings from the situation, regarding it objectively, Twenty-two (28.6%) agreed that

people choose tattoo designs more for the way they look than because they hold a certain

meaning (Park, 2015). However, when posed with a question that asked for their own

personal opinion, their answers were contradictory. We asked our respondents to choose

factors that would influence their decision to get a tattoo (Joyce, Tammy, & Kiser, 2015), and

with 64 (83.1%) votes, meaning was one of the most cited reasons. The conflicting answers

were due to how people perceive situations where they themselves are factored in, and where

they are not. Thus, we were left with biased results, as it is likely that our participants

responded differently because of this separation of ideals.

We conclude that college students see tattoos as both a sign of deviance and as a

meaningful form of self-expression, with many of the pluralist generation shedding the

stereotypes perpetuated by the generations before them. There were many determinants that

impacted our respondents’ answers, with the longstanding stereotypes surrounding those with

tattoos, transculturation, the Asian-oriented nationalities of participants, respondents’

religious beliefs, and the difference in viewpoint regarding tattoos when in relation to oneself

and others being the most significant aspects. It is in part due to these influences on our

participants’ responses that we were unable to discern a definitive result.

33


4. The results of our survey were generally similar to what we discovered in stage 2 and

3. Despite the differing geographical locations in which our survey and the majority of our

research was conducted in, Kang & Jones (2007) discovered that the social contexts in which

people inhibit shape the responses and interpretations of their tattoos by others. Similarly, our

participants are conscious of the difference one’s societal context makes when it comes to the

acceptance of tattooed individuals, 32 (41.6%) of them agreeing that how people with tattoos

are accepted depends on whether they live in Asian or Western oriented societies. In addition

to that, our survey showed that 44.2% of the college students who answered our survey

agreed with the sentiment that people refrain from getting tattoos because of society's view

regarding them. This matched up to the information we learnt in stage 2 and 3, where Tse,

Firmin, Angelini, and Foster (2012) had found that social stigmas were one of the outside

influences that play a key role in the choice of college students’ acquisition of body art.

Furthermore, 22 (28.6%) of our respondents were inclined to agree that people choose tattoo

designs more for the way they look than because they hold a certain meaning. Park’s (2015)

findings that young Koreans placed more emphasis on the appearance and aesthetics of their

tattoo than the significance behind it were further supported, as it is apparent that the post-

millennial generation are more concerned about appearances than personal significance in the

case of body ink. Interestingly, there was a notable divergence in the responses our

participants gave when faced with the statement that those with tattoos are portrayed as social

outcasts, with there being 42 participants split between strongly disagreeing (18, 23.4%) and

agreeing (24, 31.2%) with the comment presented, because of their different perception of

body art. This correlates to Jennifer’s (2016) report that tattoos are a catalyst for prejudices,

stigmatization, and stereotyping in the workplace, as reflected by society’s negative view of

tattooed individuals. When we proposed that college students think about the consequences

of having a tattoo before getting one, 26 (33.8%) replied neutrally, but a considerable amount

34


of our participants (27.3%) agreed with the statement, due to the awareness of college

students regarding social taboos in the present day. This is comparable to Dickson, Dukes,

Smith, and Strapko’s (2015) findings that college students only get their first tattoo after

much deliberation. Moreover, 26 of our participants (33.8%) concurred with a person's

chances of getting a job being affected by their decision to get a tattoo, which matches up to

the analysis of one’s employment opportunities as an notable element in the discussion of

body modification (Lim, Ting, Leo, & Jayanthy, 2013). Societal stigmas regarding tattoos

still maintain a powerful amount of control over civilisation as a whole, and subversively

influences our generation’s correlation between employability and the presence of body ink

on oneself. With regard to the aforementioned inquiry and result, it was only natural that

many (37.7%) would agree when asked if those with visible tattoos are less likely to be

employed, even if they are qualified for the job, revealing that post-millennials are

knowledgeable about the importance of appearance to prospective employers, and thus are

conscious of the repercussions of having visible body art. We found this reflectful of Caster’s

(2015) examination that employers held feelings of antipathy towards individuals with

tattoos, and would be more likely to hire a prospective employee who did not have body ink

as opposed to one who did, even if the person who was not tattooed held a lower qualification

than the person who did have body art. As 42 of our 76 respondents (54.5%) expressed

interest in getting a tattoo, we can attribute their response to the influence of the media’s

portrayal of body ink in popular culture, along with the growing interest surrounding

appearances amongst college students (Walzer & Sanjurjo, 2016). Among the reasons they

selected when asked what would influence their decision to get a tattoo were the meaning of

the tattoo to them (83.1%), its design (51.9%), and its cost (23.4%), showing similarity to

Joyce, Tammy, and Kiser’s (2015) research regarding the role of outside influences in the

decision making procedure of individuals looking to acquire body art. Their choice of

35


meaning over appearance was contrary response to one of our previous questions, and we

pinpointed it to the difference between their own outlook on tattoos and what is conceived to

be socially acceptable. When asked what factors would influence their decision to not get a

tattoo, our respondents largely chose the possibility of regret (61%), chances of employment

(49.4%), and health risks surrounding tattoos (40.3%) as their reasons, an almost perfect

match to Dickson, Dukes, Smith, and Strapko’s (2015) findings that health worries,

inadequate sources, and issues of permanency were the main reasons why non-tattooed

college students abstain from getting tattooed.We queried our participants on which group of

factors they thought was more likely to affect an individual’s decision to get tattooed, and the

majority of them (68.8%) chose internal factors over external factors, something that did not

quite match up to our research that both internal and external impressions and influences

connect to one’s remorse over obtaining a tattoo or other body art, despite there being

independence in the actual decision and acquisition (Joyce, Tammy, & Kiser, 2015). We

believe that our participants regard the possibility of regret as an incentive to obtain

permanent body ink only when the desire to do so comes from within oneself. In the case of

religion and culture, it is apparent that the regulations in beliefs and conventions of a portion

of our respondents (37.7%) are deemed by them as what prohibits the acquisition of body art.

As our survey was carried out amongst college students in Malaysia, where the dominant

religion is Malay, and due to the majority of our respondents (31.2%) identifying themselves

as of Christian belief, it is natural that some of them respond in this manner as permanent

tattooing is outlawed in these religions (Moorthy, Gunasekaram & Asmuje, 2015). Our final

question dealt with the opinion of college students on tattoos, and the majority of our

respondents (61%) stated that they regard it as a social trend that is here to stay. The plethora

of the positively aligned replies indicate that the current generation are more accepting of this

so-called “cultural deviance”, as they do not connect adverse actions to those who are

36


tattooed, a reflection of Leader’s (2015) research project that examined and identified tattoos

as a shared cultural experience, rather as a fad or a symptom.

The information collected from our survey, as well as the research we compiled,

shows that the typically unfavourable view of tattoos is a perspective that is taken into

account when studying the topic of body art. Despite being aware of this stereotype, young

adults continue to obtain tattoos disregarding the deviant connotations tattoos hold to the rest

of humankind, especially the older generation, in favour of exercising their right of self-

expression.

5. While there was little to no bias in our survey, the results that we obtained were

influenced due to the societal context in which our respondents reside, their religious beliefs,

and the age group of our target respondents. An overwhelming majority of our participants

were of Asian nationalities, and the longstanding taboo against tattoos was a significant

aspect in their answers. Many of the answers we obtained were a result of the stereotypes

surrounding tattoos in Asian cultures, as seen through our respondents’ agreement that those

with visible tattoos are less likely to be employed, even if they are qualified for the job

(Caster, 2015). The religion of our participants was also a powerful element that created bias

in our survey results. Christianity was the religion that most of our participants identified as

following, and the forbiddance of Christians to mark their skin with ink is a large quantifier

to the responses of some of our Christian participants. Moreover, the age range of our target

group, college students, comprised of post-millennials, who tend to be more responsive and

accepting of social trends that may have been considered “deviant” by the generations before

them. With the advent of globalisation and the far-reaching nature of the Internet,

respondents are more exposed to different mindsets and worldviews than any generation

before them at the same age. These demographics were vital in revealing the motivation

behind the biased nature of our results.

37


In the future, we would conduct more academic-based research, and phrase our

questions to elicit definitive responses from our participants and answer our research

question. By looking at more scholarly studies, we would be able to develop an even greater

knowledge and understanding of our topic. We could also discover interesting facts and

statistics that would contribute to the research of our topic. Moreover, by rewording our

questions to force our respondents to be objective in their answers, it would result in the

collection of interesting and varied data. It would also be possible to gain a clear answer to

our research question, instead of concluding it as ambivalent.

6. Our Challenge and Change in Society Independent Study Unit (ISU) on society’s

perception of tattoos was ultimately a labour of love that remained consistent over the course

of this semester. Although we struggled with gathering relevant academic research on our

topic, doing our ISU as a partnership helped to alleviate the workload significantly. We

learned about the importance of proper research, which ultimately assisted us in forming in-

depth survey questions. In addition to that, through our survey we discovered that college

students are more welcoming towards individuals who diverge from the social norms put in

place of centuries. We found out that religion remains a compelling power in the lives of

society’s members. It was entertaining to receive the responses of those who took our survey,

especially as we were able to collect 76 unique sets of answers. It was also enjoyable for us to

collaborate with one another, as our differing perspectives on tattoos made for thought-

provoking discussion and created new angles in which we could approach this ISU. We

found it interesting to study the answers given by our survey’s participants, as some of the

responses we collected defied our expectations and proved to be points of great interest to us.

38


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Documents

€¦ · Web viewTattoos are a type of body modification, in the form of ink markings on the skin. Throughout history, tattoos have been viewed and understood in many different