Nonsensical notion of self-expression

It’s 2015 and we’re still judging books by their covers? Or in this case, people by their tattoos? Having tattoos is a form of self expression. However, the judgments people are given simply because someone has a piece of art drawn permanently on his or her body goes to show that the expression of one’s self is only allowed to a certain point until it is seen as unprofessional or inappropriate by others.

According to Statistic Brain Research Institution, in the United States, 36 percent of people between ages 18 and 25 years old have at least one tattoo. Along with that, 40 percent of 26- and 40-year-olds also have at least one tattoo. It’s safe to say that a majority of people ages 26-40 are out looking for jobs or already have them. So, does this mean that this 40 percent of people are being denied jobs simply because of a piece of art on their body?

We know it’s not the right thing to do, but the judging continues to happen. While it’s easy to say “don’t judge a book by its cover,” a smarter thing to do might be to ask about the symbolism of a tattoo. Figure out why the person got the tattoo. Obviously, it means something if a person was willing to put it on his or her body permanently. It actually might be a better way to get to know the person that may be a future worker of the company.

People get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. Some are more meaningful than others, but who are we to tell a person that the idea of a piece of art on a body is not as special as another’s.

Workers should not be hired or fired simply because of loving marks that they put on their bodies. It’s like not hiring someone just because they don’t like the way their face looks.

If you are reading this and are in a position to hire or not hire a person, I hope that you will keep an open mind and put aside any personal opinions or preconceived notions you might have. All people deserve a fair chance, no matter what they put on their skin.

Tattoos don’t depict one’s ability to do a job. They are forms of self-expression, ways of remembering a point in a person’s life. Tattoos are gotten for many different reasons and it is no one’s place to tell someone that their reason is inappropriate or insignificant.

It’s time we stop judging people by their covers and actually take a look inside. It’s time we figure out who people really are instead of who we make them out to be.