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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have lots of tattoos do you have a professional job?

97 replies

drivinmecrazy · 03/05/2022 12:54

DD1 (21) is about to graduate and is looking to her future. She's hoping for a career in publishing (I know that's quite a broad sector).
BUT my beautiful little girl who's as intelligent, funny and talented as it's possible to be has developed a love (or addiction?) to inking.
She now has many on her upper arm (maybe 3, I've lost count). They are undoubtedly beautiful tattoos, very tasteful black and white images that are significant to her.
But I worry. Admittedly I'm 50 with no tattoos so acknowledge I'm way out of whack.

I do however worry about how it might impact on her career. She says she can hide them when/if necessary but is also of the view that in todays world they won't have any impact.
Guess I'm asking has she ruined her life?
I'm in two minds in that I love the fact she's able to express the artistic side of her talents, yet worry for her.
Don't know why I'm asking really.
I remember a time not so long go that tattoos were a no no for several careers, is it the same mindset now??

OP posts:
90sBritPop · 03/05/2022 13:43

Hasn’t stopped this guy OP

Seriously though, I used to work for the Ministry of Defence and some of our best scientists and tech people had tattoos and pink hair, it really doesn’t (and shouldn’t) matter.

To ask if you have lots of tattoos do you have a professional job?
ArtetasSmoothBallsack · 03/05/2022 13:52

Yep. I have a professional job, office based (well until covid) involving internal and external meetings.

I have leg, arm and chest tattoos. Never been a problem, doesn't affect my work in the slightest.

10HailMarys · 03/05/2022 13:55

I work in a professional environment, for an organisation that has a very serious remit - the sort of place where our CEO has regular meetings with cabinet members, and where all our stakeholders are members of a particularly respected and ultra-skilled profession. Some of our board members are knights/dames. My role involves working with the most senior people in the organisation very regularly. I have four tattoos and three of them are large and either completely or partially visible most of the time. I've also got nine ear piercings.

I should also point out that I am far from the only person in the organisation who has tattoos and/or piercings. Honestly, there are loads of us! One of the directors got a new executive assistant recently, to manage her team and to do a lot of stakeholder-facing work, and she's basically a smartly dressed goth.

The organisation uses pictures of actual staff on its website and in official publications too, and they've definitely used pictures in which staff have visible tattoos, pierced noses, bright blue hair etc.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 03/05/2022 13:56

I’m a QS who does a lot of work with civil engineers. I’m struggling to think of anyone I work with on a regular basis who DOESNT have tattoos.
I know people in director roles with full sleeves etc.

saveforthat · 03/05/2022 14:01

I can understand your concern (I am older than you). My son has some tattoos and I absolutely hate them. Back in the day they were associated with the uneducated and criminals, only slightly acceptable for the armed forces. I don't understand why anyone would want to be tattooed or find them attractive in others but I realise they are mainstream now and very popular so we need to move with the times I suppose.

Barkingmadhouse · 03/05/2022 14:01

Going against everyone else here - those i work closest with would absolutely judge/not hire anyone with visible tattoos. Comments are frequently made about other colleagues we work witg who have tattoos (even when not visible). I have 3 but they are not visible to anyone in the workplace.

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 03/05/2022 14:01

My friend is a police woman and covered head to toe in tattoos. I don't think they are viewed as they used to be and I'm fairly sure employers aren't allowed to discriminate against tattoos now.

90sBritPop · 03/05/2022 14:02

saveforthat · 03/05/2022 14:01

I can understand your concern (I am older than you). My son has some tattoos and I absolutely hate them. Back in the day they were associated with the uneducated and criminals, only slightly acceptable for the armed forces. I don't understand why anyone would want to be tattooed or find them attractive in others but I realise they are mainstream now and very popular so we need to move with the times I suppose.

You can’t understand why others don’t think like you do? 😐

MangoBiscuit · 03/05/2022 14:07

Multiple tattoos, bright unnatural hair colour, and facial piercings. I have a professional job. The only comnment I've ever had was a department lead joking that I should dye my hair our branding colours. So I did. His face was a picture on the Monday. Grin

saveforthat · 03/05/2022 14:11

@90sBritPop Of course I can understand why others don't think like me. That's not what I said. I appreciate it's the fashion now, it may not be in a few years time, unfortunately tattoos are not as reversible as my disastrous 80s perm. I also think the fashion for fat lips looks bloody awful but realise I am in a minority and perfectly aware that adults can do whatever they please to their own bodies. Just recognising the op's concern is natural.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 03/05/2022 14:11

90sBritpop I think you've taken out of context the PPs comment.
They were just saying what I have been expressing. There was a time long long ago that having tattoos would have been indicative of a certain type of person and would absolutely preclude you from doing certain jobs.
Might be hard to believe but the world was a far less tolerant place not so long ago 😂

OP posts:
BattenburgDonkey · 03/05/2022 14:15

saveforthat · 03/05/2022 14:11

@90sBritPop Of course I can understand why others don't think like me. That's not what I said. I appreciate it's the fashion now, it may not be in a few years time, unfortunately tattoos are not as reversible as my disastrous 80s perm. I also think the fashion for fat lips looks bloody awful but realise I am in a minority and perfectly aware that adults can do whatever they please to their own bodies. Just recognising the op's concern is natural.

They arnt ‘in fashion’, times have changed and people are able to be more comfortable being themselves these days as society is quite rightly more accepting now, it’s not likely to change back thankfully.

OP I work in a professional science related job and plenty of people have tattoo’s, its not a big deal anymore so I’m sure your DD will be ok.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 03/05/2022 14:22

It does hearten me that my DDs are both growing up and entering a world that is so much more tolerant. It makes me so proud that they are able to embrace it and express their individuality.
But it doesn't stop people of my age having to pause for a second and get a grip.
I've always encourage my children to follow their own path and are glad they are finding their way. Might not be my way but I can still appreciate it is their own way.
I'm just at that point of parenting when I have to let them go and fly, trusting I've done my job well.
It was only yesterday that they were babes in arms and now they're entering a world I just don't know.
Hence the questions and Im so grateful for the reassurances given on this thread FlowersGin

OP posts:
90sBritPop · 03/05/2022 14:25

drivinmecrazy · 03/05/2022 14:11

90sBritpop I think you've taken out of context the PPs comment.
They were just saying what I have been expressing. There was a time long long ago that having tattoos would have been indicative of a certain type of person and would absolutely preclude you from doing certain jobs.
Might be hard to believe but the world was a far less tolerant place not so long ago 😂

If I have of course I apologise @saveforthat but this:

I don't understand why anyone would want to be tattooed or find them attractive in others but I realise they are mainstream now and very popular so we need to move with the times I suppose.

Reads to me like not just expressing the negative connotations tattoos but generally of this opinion and reluctantly coming around to accepting them, despite your dislike.

If that wasn’t meant then I apologise for reading it wrong, otherwise I still stand by what I said. 🤪

underneaththeash · 03/05/2022 14:35

saveforthat · 03/05/2022 14:11

@90sBritPop Of course I can understand why others don't think like me. That's not what I said. I appreciate it's the fashion now, it may not be in a few years time, unfortunately tattoos are not as reversible as my disastrous 80s perm. I also think the fashion for fat lips looks bloody awful but realise I am in a minority and perfectly aware that adults can do whatever they please to their own bodies. Just recognising the op's concern is natural.

I agree, it shows pretty poor judgment.

I live in one of the most affluent towns in the UK and I rarely see anyone with a tattoo. Well-paid professions such as banking it's not really acceptable still.

SweetPetrichor · 03/05/2022 14:38

She'll be fine. I have tattoos that are visible on my forearms most of the summer in work. But if I was in a situation where I was doing something important that day - like a client meeting - maybe I'd go for long sleeves cause a) it generally looks smarter and b) it hides them just in case the client has old fashioned views. If I was going to an interview for a new role, they can be hidden under smart clothes. But again, unless they are offensive, nobody really gives tattoos a second look.

housemaus · 03/05/2022 14:40

I work in a professional (and very old school) industry and know plenty of people with tattoos. I have several that are sometimes/always visible (depending on which one and what I wear) and nobody's ever batted an eyelid, my business partner has two full sleeves and the same for him.

SweetPetrichor · 03/05/2022 14:40

I tend to look from the point of view that tattooing has been done for probably as long as humans have been around. British royalty have been tattooed! It's not a modern fleeting fashion.

Glitterblue · 03/05/2022 14:47

My GP has a sleeve 🙂

FooFighter99 · 03/05/2022 14:53

I'm an Executive PA in the NHS and have multiple tattoos, 26mm ears (stretched lobes) and bright pink hair

Nobody bats an eye

It's 2022 for crying out loud

ImprobablePuffin · 03/05/2022 15:04

"Maybe 3" is not "many" nor is it so high a number that you lose count so just from your descriptions it seems you're prone to overreacting. I'm glad posters here have put your mind at rest.

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 03/05/2022 15:05

I have four tattoos, three are visible, and I am a PA and run my own business.

As long as she doesn't have a swastika, she'll be fine.

Sausageandeggs · 03/05/2022 15:06

I’m in government and I have a full sleeve, plus goodness knows how many others. I wear long-sleeved tops. Problem solved.

Squillerman · 03/05/2022 15:08

I have a full sleeve on one arm and I’m a college teacher. It opens up conversations with some students and I think they find me more approachable because they also have tattoos or their friends do. It hasn’t held me back at all, I forget I even have them most of the time.

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 03/05/2022 15:09

3 tattoos, shoulder, large piece on wrist and one on the back of my neck and have a professional job.

I remember when I got my first one about 10 years ago my then manager was absolutely aghast and said I was "ruining my body" even though it was the shoulder one that would always be covered at work!

Thankfully attitudes seem to have evolved since then.