Tattoos

[DaisyRaine90]

DP doesn’t want me to get any more (I have 3 In discreet places)

I want a cuff tattoo to cover self harm scars and a Phoenix to symbolise me rising from the ashes on my back.

Would I be U to get them done anyway even though he doesn’t want me to?

And AIBU to have one in a visible place (cuff)
Would it be better to have a tattoo or self harm scars on show?

I might enter a social work or academic profession and would like to run a shop one day. Would a tattoo hold me back at all or are we in a modern era?

I already had the tattoos before we met (and the two planned which I wanted)

Do you have tattoos? Do you regret them? Has it affected your work in anyway?

Thanks 😊

That is beautiful, OP!

I have several tattoos, work in a (non-SW) professional job in a social work department and don't have any problems with them. I didn't either when I did the same job with the police. I know and know of plenty of senior professionals with tattoos, including a QC.

As far as SW appearance codes go, the last times I had a conversation about my appearance was 1) a SW admiring my purple glitter Doc Martens as they matched her hair, and 2) a SW team manager admiring my two wristfuls of bangles.

In my office where there are about 20 people, only two have tattoos and they are hidden. Both regretted it. In my family, none have tattoos, but at a sports club we go to, quite a few of the men have them....so I do think it depends on what circles you are in as to whether your perception is that lots of people have them or not. I do wonder what a lot of people will look like when they are older with saggy skin and saggy tattoos.

Daisy Thats a lovely tattoo.

And you wouldn't believe the amount of "upper class" people who have shitloads of tatts.

My cuff isn't really visible in long sleeves unless I reach for something.

No one ever really notices.

My friend who is a teacher in a secondary school has to cover her wrist tattoo with makeup as a condition of her employment. It is a state school.

I do wonder what a lot of people will look like when they are older with saggy skin and saggy tattoos

Much like any other person with saggy skin but just a more personalised version.

I don't have any because to me they all look like someone is muddy or grubby. And that is on the young. I don't think what they will look like in decades is really the issue.

but then I don't like the look of ripped jeans, thick red and black circle makeup, nose studs on caucasians (look like spots) and many other fashionable things that others love. Not my problem and not theirs.

as so many people have them now and they really can't be removed (look up the results of lasering, it doesn't work) , to say 'no tattoos' is going to limit the job candidate pool quite considerably.

It is your body but it does affect DP so I think he should be consulted.

I see it a bit like quitting a job. Yes, it is your job but the decision will affect your partner and so he absolutely has a right to a say.

If he couldn't be persuaded, I wouldn't do it without Dh's agreement because I didn't have it when he married me so I think the status quo breaks ties. If I wasn't married, it may be different. I also find it difficult to imagine feeling strongly about wanting to get a tattoo.

I'm not involved in recruitment so I can't really comment on that but some employers will be bothered and others won't.

I have a bigish Phoenix on my leg, same reason as you.
A small cartoon on my higher back right side.
A small crazy cat on my other leg.
And writing on my wrist(guess what that covers up).

I’m a TA.

All of them are hidden under clothes most of the year,except for summer,but even then no one blew up in a big cloud of smoke just by looking at them(except maybe my mother ).

My employer would frown upon visible tattoos. DH's employer wouldn't give a fuck. Yes they can hold you back. There is no point in arguing this. It is still your body and your choiice.

Sentance. Grammer. Yikes. I'm no English but that made me shudder.

And yes tattoos will hold you back unless you are very very good in your profession. I would hire someone with tattoos but as it is such a bold statement, I would have higher expectations. The only guy with tattoos in my office is not very good at what he's doing. But loud and 'full of personality'

* Sentance. Grammer*

What are you on about?

Your body your choice but I'd not knowingly do something to mine DH disagreed with. I hate tattoos and wouldn't fancy a person who had them so it would cause issues for me.

Work wise yes they can affect interviewers perceptions etc.

I’ve always found the idea of using tattoos to cover scars a bit iffy (as someone with scars!). Does having a tattoo not draw attention to the area? I’m not saying it’s not a nice idea to make something beautiful out of something painful, I just don’t see how you can cover up scars with tattoos.

Jacques...when skin goes saggy it distorts the tattoo, so it doesn't look personalised, it looks like one dirty big mess. You can't make out what the tattoo once was.

They're having a go at my typos from earlier Rebel.

Because absolutely no one on MN would possibly make mistake while typing quickly, ffs.

Really makes me laugh that supposedly intelligent people can't tell the difference between illiteracy and typing quickly on a tablet in the bath (which is where I was!)

And it's nowhere near as bad as "I'm no English"....if you want to start picking at people's literacy.

More people in the UK don't have a tattoo than do.

A friend of mine is a social worker and she is covered in tattoos - I mean covered, chest, back, legs, feet, arms from shoulder to wrist - and it isn't an issue in terms of her work.

I have 8 tattoos, 5 of which are visible in the warmer weather, with 2 on my wrists.

I’m a teacher. No one bats an eyelid. The kids sometimes ask, or comment (most often to compliment me or tell me their mum or Dad has tattoos)

My dh isn’t overly fond of tattoos but he’s not bothered when I get a new one, he helped me design my last 2 (a matching pair)

I am covered in them...all can be made visible, or can be covered up. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than meeting someone who looks down their nose at me because of my tatts. Because I then get into my £25k car with my private plate, and check my 6 figure bank account. Point being, tattooes don't stop you doing your job, don't stop you being successful , and certainly don't mean you are "grubby"

so it doesn't look personalised, it looks like one dirty big mess.

You missed out "in my opinion". Hope that helps

I work within child protection social work and loads of my colleagues have visible tattoos / piercings / brightly coloured hair. It hasn’t stopped any of them doing well in their careers.

I have tattoos, one is on my wrist and it's never stopped me from getting employment. DS's teacher at school has one in a similar place and she's a great teacher, he adores her.

Your body, your choice. I find it so odd when people talk about what they look like when you're older and the skin goes saggy. I'm pretty sure the appearance of my tattoos will be the least thing I care about when I'm in my 60s.

Surely an inclination towards/aversion to tattoos is a pretty basic divide and someone who dislikes tattoos would ideally not wind up married to someone who has a sleeve.

I work in a massive corporate and have two full sleeves covering very significant self harm scars and nobody has ever batted an eyelid. I also have hand tattoos that I can’t cover up and I’ve met the CEO several times who Hughes and kissed me like a normal human being because I’m professional and it’s just skin.

Before I got them, I was abused in the street and constantly questioned by rude strangers so I’d go for it.