One year ago, education major Kameel Alkassir, 19, got a tattoo of her name written in Arabic with angel wings located between her shoulder blades.
Kameel Alkassir, 19, has her name tattooed in Arabic across her shoulder blades. (Photo provided by Joe Giotti) Alkassir is one of many young adults that have gone to tattoo parlors to express themselves through body art and piercings.
In 1936, Life magazine estimated that only 6 percent of the U.S. population had at least one tattoo. By 2003, the increased popularity of the tattoo was apparent. According to the Harris Poll, 16 percent of Americans (or about 40 million people) had one or more tattoos.
Three years later, a survey by the Pew Research Center reported 36 percent of people ages 18-25 had at least one tattoo.
In the last 10 years, tattooing has become one of America’s fastest growing categories of retail business, and was ranked as the sixth-fastest-growing business through the1990s, according to a 2001 U.S. News & World Report.
According to the book, “Tattoo, Secrets of a Strange Art as Practiced by the Natives of the United States,” written by Albert Parry, Samuel O’Reilly went to the United States Patent Office in 1891 to get a patent for the first ever electric tattoo machine. He then opened his “tattoo parlor” in New York City, which became the first tattoo studio in the United States.
Soon after, tattoo parlors became an American trend, but it wasn’t until during the First and Second World Wars, that tattooing became popular because many soldiers got tattoos as a means of ensuring protection and remembering loved ones.
Why has the number of people with tattoos sky rocketed? Is it because they are beautiful, religious, rebellious, in memory of a family member or friend? Or is it just a way for people to express themselves?
“There are many reasons why people get tattoos,” said Steven Noykoff, 20, a liberal arts major. “But it boils down to people getting tattoos because they like them and because it is a way to express yourself.”
Alkassir believes that tattoos are becoming more socially acceptable every year because more people have them. “I always wanted a tattoo,” Alkassir added. “One day, I finally went through with it.”
Today, there is a wide variety of tattoos and people say they get them for many reasons, but the most popular tattoos seem to be religious, tribal markings, and nautical stars, Noykoff said.
“I got my first tattoo, which was my last name on my leg, just because it was something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Noykoff said. “My second tattoo, which was a cross with angel wings on my back, was more of a well-thought-out process.”
Some believe that unsanitary tattooing techniques can result in transmitting diseases such as herpes, Hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and cause bacterial skin infections.
Although the risk of an infecton is there, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) documented “no cases of HIV transmission through tattooing” anywhere in the country since it began tracking such data in 1985.
The CDC summary data also indicated that of the 13,387 annual cases of hepatitis detailed in the most recent CDC report, only 12 cases were associated with tattoo studios.
“I got my first tattoo about nine years ago,” said Kevin Fisher, 31, a media arts and animation major. “I somewhat regret getting it at such a young age because when I was getting tattoos, it was more common to catch a disease or get an infection.” The risks were a lot higher back in the day, Fisher added.
There are other risks associated with getting tattoos besides infectious diseases. Tattoo recipients tend to assume all is well, that is, until applying for a new job.
Some tattoos are easily covered, if need be, but facial piercings are harder to hide. Other than having ear piercings, it is frowned upon to have facial piercings because many employers do not allow their employees to wear them while working.
“I interviewed for Rosemont College and I ultimately got the job,” said Anthony Patterson, 19, a criminal justice major. “But they noticed that I had my tongue pierced and told me I wouldn’t be able to work there as a security guard if I had kept it in. It just seems ridiculous to me to be judged unfairly even if they say it is a ‘bad image.’”
Another common occurrence seems to be buyer’s remorse. Because the youth are getting tattoos at a younger and younger age, Fisher said, as they get older, they tend to not like them as much.
Dr. Bernadine Healy, writing for U.S. News and World Report, agrees. In 2008, “upwards of 50 percent of those who get tattoos later wish they hadn’t,” Healy stated.
And The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery reported that tattoo removal increased 17 percent between 2001 and 2005. About 55,000 procedures were performed in 2005 alone.
Almost a year after getting her tattoo, Alkassir reflected on the experience. “I don’t regret getting my tattoo,” Alkassir said. “I just wish I would have rethought the location because it’ll be tough to hide on my wedding day because it is on my upper back.”
Contact Joe Giotti at
communitarian@mail.dccc.edu
