Are body art and piercings considered professional or unprofessional?
By: Jariya Son
May 30, 2023
There’s a lot of speculation on whether certain factors like dyed hair or tattoos should be considered unprofessional for professional settings. Many professional jobs have denied people with tattoos, colored hair, or even piercings, causing an uproar about what should or shouldn’t be considered a part of work policies. Many believe it shouldn’t hinder your chances of getting hired, as qualifications and skills should be considered first before their appearance. For example, if your doctor has purple hair and piercings, do you believe it affects their performance? Or what if your manager has their body covered with tattoos? Does it affect their work ethic and their performance?
Dress codes have been introduced since the 18th century, way back before many of us were born. The policies sets an example and it conveys the image the organization wants to show to outsiders. It’s to place expectations within the company and peering eyes. But how does appearance correlate to skills? Should what we wear or do with our bodies affects our abilities? Many professional settings have rejected people regarding their dyed hair, tattoos, piercings, or simply the way they may look, depending on the company. Every company has an image they want to place, but is it fair for those that don't follow their policies for their appearance?
“Companies have the right to place policies regarding dress codes,” Amanda said in a statement. “But regarding our appearances and what we do with our bodies, shouldn’t affect our work ethic and skills. I believe that it’s unprofessional to deny someone simply because of body art.”
Based on statistics in this article, Tattoos in the Workplace Statistics: Is Getting Inked an Obstacle? About 40% of people have tattoos, with around 36% aged 35-50 and Americans over 50 with 16%. It appears that younger people from ages 18-34 have a higher rate of 40% because companies are starting to be more accepting of tattoos. Besides people being more accepting, it appears that people are still reacting negatively toward tattoos. About 42% believe tattoos are inappropriate, same with piercings with 55%. These numbers are high because many of these people are in generations where being expressive in terms of tattoos and piercings is forbidden. With new generations showing a liking for body art and piercings, it gained mixed views. Many older generations have viewed them as rebels or delinquents, gaining negative impressions.
“I can understand how or why it can be associated with being rebels or delinquents. But many have used piercings and tattoos as a way to express themselves. Just because I have ink on my skin or my appearance is different, it doesn’t mean I’m a part of a gang or anything in that way.” Amanda claimed.
