Wednesday, August 20, 2008

• The Tattooed Masses

  I read a post about a French teacher who almost lost her job because of the tattoos on her back that she kept hidden at work. It got me thinking, since so many of my readers are part of different subcultures, Do you have any horror stories (or some feel good storied) about how people reacted to your tattoos?
  
  It actually took me 2 years after getting my first tattoos for me to show them to my family. I was incredibly afraid of what they might say or that they'd be upset since I know they don't really understand my lifestyle. My female parent was more upset than the male. She doesn't really get it and that's okay. He knew that I would get them some day, especially once I fessed up about the piercing in my face.
  
  My less than fun stories:
  My possible future grandmother in law pulled me aside on Father's day this year and told me she was mad at me because of the piercing in my face, that I'd never become a teacher if I didn't get rid of it and stop harming my body. She also told me piercings and tattoos are below my "class" and that I should get rid of everything before my grandfather saw it.
  
  In both the good and bad category is a story about when I was in the grocery store months ago. I was with my friends and were were shopping for easter sunday dinner. We were in a LONG line with lots of people. I was wearing a spring halter dress showcasing my phoenix on my back and an old woman began talking to me. She complimented me on my artwork and asked if my parents were okay with it. This uptight soccer mom type behind us said loudly "I'm sure she's just sick to her stomach. Tattoos are disgusting". The whole line just sort of quieted and looked at us and the old lady smiled looked at her and said "Is it lonely up there.............. on your pedestal?" and we all bursted out laughing as the soccer mom moved to a new line that was longer.
  
  In my feel good category
  Generally my tattoos are hidden but when I am going out I dress pretty pinup-y and little girls love my makeup up and these kids I babysit LOVED when my hair was bright red. Whenever I see them now, they tell me how much they miss my "elmo hair".
  
  The cutest thing happened when I was trying on bathing suits and clothes in the beginning of the summer. This little girl was sitting in the chair and I was there with my aunt as I was trying them on, sort of modeling them for her. As mentioned above my aunt really isn't into my tattoos or piercings or my "peculiar" way of dressing and she tries to change it whenever possible. We're just getting to a place where she's accepting this stuff.
  
  As I was standing in the mirror looking at a halter top I had on with my Ed Hardy sneakers that I looove, the mom was trying to pull her daughter away from the dressing room and I heard her go "Mom look she has a bird on her back!" and the mom was like whatever and then the little girl said "Mom she has pictures on her shoes too! That's so cool." and I just sort of grinned. I looked at my aunt and was like, "You see? 7 year olds think I'm pretty rad" and she just rolled her eyes and shook her head.
  
  Another great instance happened at my summer job. Every morning this one little girl would run up to me and pull up the sleeve of my shirt and trace the stars. One day she pulled it really far back and the wings from my phoenix were poking past my bra and she was like "WHAT'S THAT!" and I told her it was another tattoo or a bird and her eyes got all wide "You have ANOTHER tattoo Ms. B!" she seemed delighted and then proceeded to ask me all these questions.
  
  Another time in the middle of the summer we got a new little girl.

  

  She'd never been in a day care before and she cried and cried and cried. On this day of all days I had on bright makeup and bright jewelry and I sat her next to me while we were at the movie theater and she started checking out all my accessories and the like and (like all of the kids), pulled up my sleeve of my camp shirt and stopped crying. She was so interested in the tattoos and she started talking to me and spent the rest of the day underfoot. No more tears or problems.
  
  I thought it was super cute, but when I saw her mom I realized why she was more comfortable once she saw my tattoos. Her mom has quite a few and most are visible. So it was like having a little piece of home in a strange place that could comfort her while she was making that transition.
  
  So there are my stories. Now tell me yours and hopefully I'll have some free time to make a video for you guys.
  
  - B
  
  PS: If any of you think that professionals in this country don't have tattoos, I'd like to point you towards Inked, a photographic look of tattoos and professionals. On this site you'll see doctors, lawyers and Ivy-League educated people who all have tattoos.
  

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