Why Do People Get Tattoos (Research Paper Sample)

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Why People Get Tattoos?
People are tattooed for different reasons including social class transition, beauty, and cultures. Sometimes people choose to get tattoos in order to stand out from the rest or as a way of remembering a transition or a period in their lives. This art of has been embraced historically as an artistic alteration of the body, to denote criminal elements, and to indicate both high-class segments of society. Millions of tattoo variations have been applied and continue to be varied. (Jones and Kang 43). Tattoos have existed for many decades initially having been used as mark inscriptions for identifying a tribe after another. The art of tattooing has gradually changed mostly purposed for beauty as compared to many other uses. Criminal gangs have used tattoo rituals in celebrating particular achievements and in branding their members (Jones and Kang 43).
The first established tattoo was discovered in 1991 from a mummy called Oetzi, an Iceman estimated to be aged more than 5200 years (Fisher 93). His tattoos were comprised of vertical and horizontal lines. There are controversial debates as to why the tattoos were there in the first place. Researchers have been of the idea that these tattoos were made with the purpose of performing a specific type of rite-of-passage, or fending off evil spirits. Oetzi was found to have 57 tattoos that are positioned on quite a number of joints on his body. It is believed that they were simultaneously made while acupuncture was being performed on his body to relieve pain on his joints. Today, the same positions are being are being used by physiotherapists when conducting acupuncture. Egyptians are among the most renowned prehistoric cultures for tattoos. Mummies who have been discovered recently show purely assorted tattoo coverings dating back to the 2200 BC (Fisher 94). During this time, tattoos were only limited to women. In the Egyptian community of the time, tattoos were believed to mark certain types of rituals (Fisher 94).
In Asia, for instance Japan, tattoos were originally used on human shaped clay figures. The figures represented a deceased person and were found in the sepulchers of the individual in whose image they were intended. They markings were painted or embossed on the figures’ faces. Researchers have established that these markings had mystical or religious connotation. These figures have been discovered in tombs dated from 3100 BC (Fisher 94). In the traditional Chinese, tattoos were inscribed as punishment for unlawful activities, by creating permanent markings on an individual to brand him/her as a lawbreaker. Tattooing has been practiced continuously throughout the history of the world. It has been used to represent a range of things such as religious conviction, adornment, and social rank. Tattoos have been found in all color patterns, dimensions and, shapes conceivable on both men and women. Irrespective of whether they have been found to be something that was used for beauty or were held sacred, these markings have been there for ages and their existence do not seem to fade any time soon (Fisher 96).
Many people are getting tattoos lately (Jones and Kang 43). People of all ages are getting them and from all backgrounds. People, especially the youth have been tremendously influenced into creating tattoos all over their body surfaces by their favorite celebrities who include actors and actresses, and football players. However, the truth of matter is that these celebrities not only put on tattoos for beauty but also for deeply personalized reasons that many people are too blind to understand. The people who put on tattoos try to depict that these “ink markings” are the most amazing experiences and that somebody should strive to get one. What they really do not pass through is the overwhelming negative effects that come as a result of inscribing these markings. Generally, tattoos are bad for humans. Here, tattoos represent lasting markings on the skin created using a needle that has permanent ink in it (Jones and Kan 45).
Some people put on tattoos as a tool of expressing their interests or personality traits. For example, many secular music artists inscribe tattoos to show their interest in that field where every other artist has tattoos all over (Jones and Kang 44). An artist would also like to be associated with the character traits of the players in that field. However, interests are fleeting and someone would not need to tattoo him or her on their body. It is in fact a silly risk. Character traits also change. These interests can in fact be expressed without the permanence depicted by tattoos. People should always make efforts to improve themselves, not limiting themselves to current and passing traits. This renders tattoos useless. Many people regret having put on tattoos when they get older. What people may not understand is tattoos cannot always be removed and that they leave heftily permanent scars. For a young individual, they supposedly represent freedom and liberty, and now a person has aged, they represent a bad decision and a cliché of naivety (Jones and Kang 44).
People also get tattoos in the name of expressing their culture. That is, they make them to show that they are German, they were in the army, or they belong to a certain tribe (Wohlrab 88). Having been in the army or belonging somewhere is a thing about that particular person and it can never change. Coming from a certain social group or ethnicity does not particularly anything much about a person. So then, a person does not have to choose a permanent position for a tattoo, instead he should just put on a German shirt or blouse time after time. In this way, tattoos are not good enough to be warranted a permanent position in somebody’s body. Otherwise, people should only express themselves through words and not by the way they wear or bodily markings (Wohlrab 89).
Tattoos usually pose a very explicit danger to a person’s health. Tattoo victims are highly at risk of contracting blood-borne diseases. The device used for inscribing tattoos, usually a needle can be used as a contagious tool for transferring a blood-borne malady from one victim to another. These widely spread diseases include HIV AIDS, tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (Wohlrab 89). The needles also create a potential threat for contracting skin infections. They can lead to localized bacterial infections. However, people are continually getting tattooed regardless of the possible risks associated with the act. Proponents of tattooing have publicly denounced the idea of people becoming too risk averse to avoid tattoos. They have argued that modern tattooing is conducted through the most precise procedures, by the right people trained for the job, and in areas already inspected and approved to be of articulate health standards. What they forget is that a sure way of doing something can also turn out to be the wrong way of doing it. Thus, people should just shun being tattooed to completely avoid the risks there of (Wohlrab 90).
People with tattoos usually have very limited choices in the careers they intend to pursue. This is because certain corporations and companies do not allow employees with tattoos made all over their bodies as part of policies aimed at keeping the good name of the business. Therefore, tattoos can really inhibit someone from getting a dream job. In addition, things always change in such a way that yesterday’s meat becomes today’s poison (Fisher 105). This means that a person might resolve to seeking a job one had never anticipated and because of a past bad decision, the individual might turn out losing lifetime opportunity. A child who has always looked forward to becoming an artist may turn out to be a doctor in future. However, strict proponents of tattooing have put forward the idea of respect for diversity in compa...