Tattoos are a form of body art that has been around for ages. There are several reasons for getting tattoos. They have prevailed among teenagers in the 21st century due to social media, artists, peer pressure, and other reasons. Permanent tattoos are engraved on the skin, and temporary tattoos fade with time. Teenagers should consider several factors before they can put any form of ‘ink ‘on their bodies.
Before a teenager gets a tattoo, they should consider several factors, i.e., permanent or temporary tattoos. Tattoos have become popular, especially in the ‘supermarket era’ from the 1980s to the present, as there is increased consumer choice and easy availability of tattoo parlors [M. Atkinson2003].
Since the 1980s, tattoos have become a norm, unlike before, when they were regarded as a form of delinquency. The tattoo form has been catapulted by celebrities, e.g., Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, and Lil Wayne, among others who are pop icons, and they have a young following. Teenagers get tattoos as a sign of regaining control of their lives and bodies due to pressure from parents and teachers, going around mainstream thoughts, and keeping memories, among other reasons. It has been regarded as a battle between teenagers and bodies of authority in their lives [M. Atkinson2003].
Teenagers should get tattoos for the right reasons, which they have gone through thoroughly in their minds, and not random events or instances involving drug abuse. Teenagers get tattoos to solidify their bonds with each other in these changing times, where real friends are rare due to social media influence.[M.Atkinson2003]. This also revolves around life-changing events in regard to teenagers going to college, living alone for the first time, and getting their first love, among other bonds with their peers. Most teenagers get matching tattoos with their first partners so as to establish a form of permanence in the current society riddled with divorce. These are attempts to establish long-lasting relationships in an age where the young value sex to a stable relationship.
Teenagers in the 21st century are all about social media and some spot tattoos so as to feel in touch with the real world in this digital age. .[D. Rubin 2012].
The 21st century has brought about the camera age, where all teenagers also have an online presence, particularly on social media. This has brought about a show-off attitude that demands perfection from the users, particularly girls who can feel depressed due to their imperfect bodies. Before the ‘supermarket era’, women with tattoos were regarded as rebellious; however, that changed in the Victorian age as prominent women started sporting tattoos, e.g., Winston Churchill’s mum and Vanderbilt women, among others. The new age of girls gets tattoos to overcome the stigma brought about by faceless social media users. .[D. Rubin 2012].
Tattoos have become a norm, but they still carry some stigma that revolves around the location of the tattoo and the social context of the individual. They also invoke the same stigma that they were to deal with, where tattooed individuals can shun those without tattoos, leading to discrimination among peers. In regards to teenagers, permanent tattoos should not be considered since their brains are not yet developed to cope with the emotions of adolescence. A teenager is more likely to get a wrong and regrettable tattoo due to several factors, including a lack of full knowledge of the side effects and risks involved.
References
Atkinson, M. (2003). Tattooed: The sociogenesis of a body art. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
DeMello, M. (2000). Bodies of inscription. A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community, 2003.
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