Throughout the history of humankind, the humans have been continually modifying their bodies. Conversely, in these modern times, commonly referred to as the Western societies, body modifications are perceived to be works of art and are increasingly gaining popularity (Ikonen, 2017). Nevertheless, even these modern times, body modification still leads to challenges with the professional and personal contexts. Notably, within the working environment, difficulties encountered as a result of body modifications can potentially have adverse effects on both the organisation and individuals and in some instances even the entire society in which the individual lives.
According to Charles Darwin, all the different nations along with their diversified cultures and tribes recognise or have encountered the tattooing phenomenon (Hokkanen, 2017, p.19). Looking back into the past, over 5000 years ago, there are mentions of body modification instances, which at that time encompassed body piercing or other modification for rituals purposes. In comparison, the most commonly experienced and enjoyed form of body modification is being tattooed (Hokkanen, 2017, p.13). Accordingly, modification of the body has been an integral element throughout the history of humans, in facts dating back as early as the very beginning of humanity.
Nonetheless, in these modern times, in the western societies, piercing and tattoos broadly well-thought-out as the markers of persons who are socially deviant and divergent, these groups of people include sailors, convicts and criminals in the society (Hokkanen, 2017, p.28). Such definition can be partly explained through the understanding of an event which occurred in Europe back in the year 325, and tattoos were prohibited by the emperor Constantine the Great. The emperor believed and maintained that man was created in the image of God; hence he reasoned that intentional modification of the human body should bear consequences, was punishable. Such occurrences significantly halted tattoos evolutions, as well as all the other form of body modification for over one thousand years (Hokkanen, 2017, p.20).
Even so, through the 1960s, tattoos began to regain popularity among the young adults through the rock band members. The admiration started in America, and before long, the European counterparts followed in the footsteps (Woodford, 2018). Likewise, in Scotland, tattoos began to gain popularity in the late 1970s, precisely when the rock culture became more visible and started to gain popularity among the youth. Accordingly, it is evident that tattooing along with other different forms of body modifications have a strong history dating back to thousands of years. All in all, the present day renowned form of body art encountered in the workplace within these modern times is being tattooed. Conversely, tattoos bring about concerns and challenges associated with relativism within the cultural context. Cultural relativism mirrors that the implications put forward by tattooed individuals are centred around culture (French, et al., 2016, p.1224).
Historical Review in Scotland’s History
The Devil’s Mark and the Witch-Prickers of Scotland
One of the relevant historical events encountered in Scotland associated with the subject area of body modifications is “the Devil’s mark and the witch-prickers of Scotland,” experienced in the 17th century (McDonald, 1997, p.507). During the historical period, the search for devil’s mark on witches was substantially centred on marks on the body. The assessment founded on the markings found on the suspected witches body. The markings on the skins were perceived to be unresponsive to the body piercings, where needles were used to draw the marks but the skin was not punctured, and they did not bleed. In America and England, the body markings were considered to be supplementary nipples on which the witches’ familiar suckled, in a similar manner through which vampires such their victims’ blood to gain control over them (McDonald, 1997, p.507). In Scotland, the markings were perceived to signify a covenant between the devil and the witches. The argument was that the devil imprinted the mark on his followers.
Among the body marking considered to be the devil’s marks included the Naevi, Supernumerary nipples and the tattoos. Subsequently, Murray maintained that the marking mostly resembled tattoos; which were given to organised pagan religion in ceremonies and rituals. Such understandings imply that the tattooing culture is an ancient practice; which was arguably carried out in different parts around the world. Tattoos have also been associated with marriage and fertility, as well as rites of puberty (McDonald, 1997, p.508). Furthermore, little was known on the subject of the tattoo culture in Western Europe until the 18th century. However, it gained popularity among the early British Christians to an extent it was prohibited to be against the religion. They argued that tattoos interfered with God creation, which was made in His image. Inherently, through the historical event, it is evident that the tattooing culture is an ancient practice, which was faced with differing individual and societal perception and attitude.
The significance of the Study
It would be of significance to study the effects and challenges encountered in the workplace as a result of body modifications. Moreover, to identify effective mitigation strategies to decrease the unbeneficial redundant impact, it would be helpful to comprehend further the underlying reasons as to why body modifications lead to negative effects in the professional environment. Therefore, the research will provide a clear understanding of tattoos in the cultural context, the different perceptions towards tattoos in the workplace as well as the adverse effects in the working environment. The review will be of substantial importance in defining tattoos as a form of body modification related to self-identity, beauty and not negative behaviour or attitude.
Research Aims and Questions
Following the highlight background information; this thesis aims to review body modifications, precisely tattoos, and the effect they have within the working environment in these modern times. Principally, the study will be focused on establishing the association of tattoos and individual professionalism in the workplace. In essence, the connection will help determine how being tattooed affects peoples’ employability. Additionally, the study will also tend to focus on Scotland, where it will attempt to answer the following research questions.
- How do tattoos affect professional success in the working environment?
- Is there a generally negative attitude about people with tattoos?
- Do people have a negative perception of people with tattoos at the workplace?
Research Objectives
In the current generation working environment, more and more people are turning up with tattoos and body piercings, this provokes the question to inquire if the target group are accepted within the place of work, treated normally or are discriminated against and inappropriately treated. From a broad perspective tattoos may be associated with the undesirable appearance in the professional context, therefore, understand employees’ perception and attitude towards co-workers with tattoos will be of significance in establishing the effects body modifications on individuals’ employability.
- To determine where recruitment candidates with tattoos and body piercings accepted in the place of work.
- To determine whether tattoos are considered to have an undesirable appearance in the professional context.
- To determine co-workers’ and societal perception and attitude towards employees with tattoos.
Problem Statement
On the other hand, tattooing as a culture surrounding the human body modifications can be termed to be a new, a growing and a rapidly developed culture. It is no surprise that different demographics from diverse backgrounds and ages within the current generation had drastically differing perceptions, reactions and experienced toward the form of body modification, especially within the professional context in the working environment. Moreover, the differences in the understandings and viewpoints concern tattoos can potentially lead to adverse effects in the workplace. For example, the differences can likely hinder individuals’ employability, the chances of securing and retaining a job. The aspect also lowers an organisations chances of hiring the most talented and suitable candidate with the desires expertise and skills. From another point of view, the issues surrounding tattooing in the working environment can also hamper an organisations ability to attract the right consumers in the market ((French, Mortensen and Timming, 2018; Quirós, et al., 2016, p.131).
Talents and professionalism are the most important factors when hiring an employee. However, the lack of knowledge and understanding of cultural awareness has made employers discriminate against people with tattoos and other body markings. The paper will address the societal notions towards tattoos and the impacts on employability. Besides, Seiter and Hatch (2005), further indicated that identifying and understanding the connection linking body modifications, tattoos, and the adverse effects related to attitudes will be of significance (Flanagan and Lewis, 2019, p.92). The argument is that the negative outlooks can potentials result in explicit harmful and undesirable behaviours within the place of work. These behaviours may widely include, but not limited to many forms of inappropriate treatment, such as discrimination, bullying, insulting, demeaning, oppression and intentional harming of the target individuals in the working environment (Wroblewski, 2017). Likewise, it was further highlighted that the type of inappropriate treatments could also lead to psychological disorders such as nervousness and depression. All these adverse effects associated with tattoos in the workplace can be observed and identified among individuals who merely encounter discrimination or harassment. Also, it can be argued that the negative psychological burden can substantially disrupt an individual professional career.
What is more, the intervention measures and efforts invested, both unofficial and official mitigating actions, also wastes precious time and other valuable resources away from their primary functions within an organisation. Again, as highlighted earlier, body modifications (tattooing) is increasingly gaining popularity; moreover, today, tattoos are no longer associated with marginalised groups. From a quantitative research study conducted in 2016, by The Harris Poll indicated that 29% of Americans have tattoos, at least one person out five individuals. Furthermore, tattoos are nowadays widespread among the younger population, who mostly belong to the Millennials demographic in the society, especially those involved in sporting activities. Swart (2018), found out that in the Western cultures, more than 25% of the younger population aged between 20 to 35 years are tattooed, however, it is noteworthy to highlight that the figure was arrived at solely on surveys centred on tattoos excluding other forms of body modifications. Therefore, it can be deduced that irrespective of the scope of the study, it is safe to conclude that the majority of younger populations, more so the millennials admire being tattooed. Consequently, the issue and concerns surrounding the effects of tattoos in the working environment cannot be overlooked; instead it should be further understood, and relevant intervention measure is developed and implemented.
The Structure of the Study
Introduction: The research study will begin with an introductory chapter where background information will be supported by a historical event, experienced in Scotland back in the 18th century. The section will also discuss the significance of the study, it aims and objectives as well as the problem statement, the basis on which the subject area is relevant to the investigation.
Literature Review: the review of the literature will discuss previous studies conducted to establish the connection of tattooing culture to individual and societal culture. Afterwards, the analysis will also include supportive content regarding the effects of being tattooed in the working environment. The reasons why individual get tattooed along with the cultural implication of tattoos will delve on. The discussions will all channel through to how being tattooed reduces an individual’s chance to secure and maintain a job. The review will also highlight how being tattooed reduces organisations chances of recruiting the more suitable candidates with the right talent, skills and expertise. The study hypothesis will be developed in this section, the queries which the paper intends to respond to.
Methodology: the chapter will focus on the research methods, the techniques used to examine the relevant data. The section will highlight on the sampling procedures as well as the type of analysis techniques which will be employed in the study. The paper is expected to utilise descriptive methods to discuss the impact of tattoos on individual employability in the professional context.
Results and Discussion: in this section, the paper will discuss the study outcomes, and inherently connect the findings to the literature review. This is the section where the research objectives will be answered based on the analysis of the literature and the results of the research. The hypothesis developed in the literature review will be addressed.
Conclusion: this will be the last section of the study. Primarily, the chapter will delve on the final study outcomes, indicating whether or not the body modification influences certain inappropriate treatment and attitude in the working environment. Accordingly, the paper will also state whether body modifications negatively influence a candidate’s chances to be employed.
References
Flanagan, J.L. and Lewis, V.J., 2019. Marked inside and out: an exploration of perceived stigma of the tattooed in the workplace. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 38(1), pp.87-106.
French, M.T., Maclean, J.C., Robins, P.K., Sayed, B. and Shiferaw, L., 2016. Tattoos, employment, and labor market earnings: Is there a link in the ink?. Southern Economic Journal, 82(4), pp.1212-1246.
French, M.T., Mortensen, K. and Timming, A.R., 2018. Are tattoos associated with employment and wage discrimination? Analyzing the relationships between body art and labor market outcomes. human relations, p.0018726718782597.
Ikonen, H., 2017. Body Modifications in Professional Contexts: Examining body modifications’ effects and implications for success in work environments.
Quirós, C.C., McCombs, G., Tolle, S.L. and Arndt, A., 2016. The association between dental hygienists with visible tattoos and professionalism in the commonwealth of Virginia. Int J Evid Based Pract Dent Hygienist, 2, pp.129-34.
McDonald, S.W., 1997. The Devil’s mark and the witch-prickers of Scotland. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 90(9), pp.507-511.
Swart, M., 2018. A workplace literacy perspective on unlocking employability of Technical and Vocational Education and Training College graduates (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University).
Woodford, S.D., 2018. Body art and its impact on employment selection decisions: Is there a bias towards candidates with visible tattoos? Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Commerce in Management. University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Wroblewski, S., 2017. The Stigma against tattoos in the workplace: San Francisco versus Kalamazoo Area. Honors Theses.
