Running head: KISS OF DEATH

Are Tattoos the Kiss of Death when trying to find a Job?

Brooke Ballagh
RWS 1302
University of Texas El Paso

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Abstract

Over the years tattoos have become extremely mainstream and popular. People get tattoos for
multiple reasons ranging from a soldier proudly wanting to display the memory of one of his
fallen brothers to a burn victim covering up visible scars from skin grafts. No matter the reason,
the stigma that tattoos are unprofessional are still very apparent in the workforce today.
Thousands of years ago people would wear their body art with pride and dignity, so how is it that
the evolution of displaying ones body art has come down to having to hide it under clothes or
get them removed? The discrimination against those with visible tattoos has recently been
exploited in the military by them tightening up their regulations on soldiers tattoos. This issue is
ongoing and very prevalent in todays military and quite possibly the future military. Does
having a visible tattoo make a person less able to do a job they are well qualified for? Does
having a visible tattoo make a soldier less willing to die for the country they love?

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The art and the meaning of tattooing has changed over the years, but the one thing that
has not changed is that the tattoo means something to the person it is on. Tattooing has become
increasing more popular in all cultures. At first it was thought that just sailors and miscreants
bore tattoos but the genre of those who have tattoos now is much more dynamic. Tattoos have
not only become more popular in the military but one might just find out that their childrens
grade school teacher has multiple tattoos as well. Though some people purposely get their
tattoos in places where they can be easily hidden by clothes so to conform to perceived social
norms, there are those out there that proudly show off their artwork and believe that they should
not be looked over for any opportunity due to that fact. This literary review will take a look at
both sides and ask the following three questions.
1. Where did tattooing begin?
2. What is the current issue on tattoos in the workplace/military?
3. What is the future for individuals with visible tattoos in the workplace/military?
Where did tattooing begin?
Declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, status symbols and even forms of
punishment have all been done permanently via
ink on ones skin. The earliest known tattoos were
originally thought to be Egyptian which were
present on many female mummies that dated back to 2000 B.C. That Figure
was until
1 recently in 1991
an iceman from the area of the Italian-Austrian border was found to have tattoo patterns on his
hand (as seen in Figure 1) and is believed to be around 5,200 years old. (Lineberry, 2007)
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The tattooed right hand of the Chiribaya mummy is displayed at El Algarrobal Museum near the
port of llo in southern Peru. (Lineberry, 2007) It is believed that Otzi, the iceman, was covered
with more than 50 tattoos in forms of small lines and crosses made up of small incisions in his
skin into which charcoal was rubbed. (Lobell, 2013)
In Egypt, the art of tattooing was believed to be exclusively a female practice. Mummies
found with these markings were usually assumed to be the mark of prostitutes or were meant to
protect the women from sexually transmitted diseases. (Lineberry, 2007) On the other hand
some believed that tattooing of ancient Egyptian women served more of a therapeutic role during
pregnancy. This was supported by the pattern of distribution of dots applied over the abdomen
inn a net-like fashion to keep everything in. Bes, the protector of women in labor, was also a
figurine that was tattooed on a vast majority of the women and positioned at the top of the thighs
thus safeguarding the actual birth. (Lineberry, 2007)
Southeastern Ceremonial Complex is a group of similar religious practices that Native
Americans speaking very different languages had in common from about A.D. 1200 to 1600.
According to David H. Dye of the University of Memphis, who has studied both ritual depictions
on artifacts and the Native American oral traditions, tattooing was a vital part of these shared
religious beliefs. (Lobell, 2013) For warriors, facial tattoos were snares for capturing the soul
of someone they killed in battle. Capturing those enemy souls through permanent tattoos helped
extend not only their own lives, but helped ease the passage of their dead relatives Dye
explained.
American tattooing evolved from the artists who traded, copied, swiped and improved on
each others work. This eventually developed into a series of popularly known symbols that
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were commonly asked for in the military community during World War I and World War II.
These designs mainly represented courage, patriotism, defiance of death, and longing for family
and loved ones left behind. These records were obtained from ship logs, letters and diaries
written in the early 19th century. (Vanishingtattoo.com, 2013) C.H. Fellowes is considered to be
one of the first professional tattoo artists back then. He was believed to have followed the fleets
and practiced his art in numerous ports on soldiers.
Martin Hildebrandt, of German decent, began his career in 1846 by tattooing both Union
and Confederate soldiers with military insignias and the names of their sweethearts. He
eventually was to become the owner of the first tattoo studio in America. In 1870 it was called
an atelier and was located on Oak Street in New York City. He worked there for twenty years
and was the first tattoo artist to have completely covered a person in tattoos for a circus
attraction. (Vanishingtattoo.com, 2013) Samuel OReilly was tattoo artist that opened up a
tattoo parlor in 1875 at 11 Chatham Square in Chinatown of the Bowery of New York City. In
addition to being an artist, OReilly was a mechanic and a technician. OReilly eventually
invented and patented his own automatic hand-held tattoo machine in 1891.
What is the current issue on tattoos in the workplace/military?
Professionalism is being questioned when visible tattoos at the workplace and military
come into play. It is believed that a person with multiple showing tattoos just might not be as
professional as a person without. The military has recently changed its position on the size and
where abouts that a soldier may have a tattoo. The dramatic change has undoubtedly stirred the
waters in the military community.

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I am a noncommissioned officer, I am a professional in every aspect in my military

career. How is having a tattoo a symbol of being unprofessional? As a medic, how does
my tattoo prevent me from saving a life, giving medical care helping my fellow
soldiers? Asks Army Reserve Sergeant Lindsay Urena. (Tan, 2014)
These are the types of questions that soldiers are now asking the Department of Defense
after the tightening of the personal appearance tattoo policy AR 670-1. The policy states that
soldiers tattoos cannot be located anywhere on the neck or head above the lines of a T-shirt.
They also cannot be located anywhere below the wrist bone. Visible band tattoos cannot be
longer than two inches wide. There can be no more than one visible band tattoo. Sleeve tattoos
on arms or legs are not allowed. Each visible tattoo below the elbow or knee must be smaller
than the size of the wearer's extended hand. There cannot be more than four total tattoos below
the elbows or knees. Soldiers who currently violate these revisions can be grandfathered in as
long as commanders validate their current tattoos. Also, each year, commanders much check
each Soldier for new tattoos that might be prohibited. The checks will be done when Soldiers are
in their physical fitness uniform and do not include tattoos that might be hidden by the shorts or
T-shirts. (DoD, AR 670-1)
The tattoo restrictions enforced apply equally to officers and warrant officers.
Enlisted soldiers with any tattoos on the body in forbidden locations listed or soldiers exceeding
the limit of four tattoos cannot request commissioning or appointment even if they are
grandfathered in. (DoD, AR 670-1) This restriction itself has caused a big uproar with the
brothers and sisters that protect this country. Staff sergeant Adam Thorogood of the Kentucky
National Guard has recently filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to have the new tattoo rules
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declared unconstitutional. Thorogood, who has 11 tattoos, hopes to become an aviation warrant
officer. (Tan, 2014)
The revised regulation was published on March 30, 2014 and the Sergeant Major
of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III addressed why the changes were made. "The Army is a
profession, and one of the ways our leaders and the American public measure our
professionalism is by our appearance," he said. "Wearing of the uniform, as well as our overall
military appearance, should be a matter of personal pride for all Soldiers. (Vergun, 2014)
This is all good and well but the current soldiers in the military are just not going to let
this issue go. I have been deployed six times, Ive been shot at multiple times, but I would do it
all again for the love of my country. But after fifteen years in the Army they are now going to
tell me that I cannot apply for a commission just because of the tattoos on my arm? Its absurd
and unfair. I really hope they decide to change the policy again. States Staff Sergeant Nathan
Lucero in an interview done right outside of Fort Bliss in 2015. (Personal Interview, 2015)
With law suits and unanswered questions the army is looking to relax the current policy for those
soldiers looking to turn their sergeant stripes in for a lieutenants bar. (Tan, 2014) Definitely a
step in the right direction but continued damage to the new potential recruits wanting to fight for
their country remains. According to Captain Joshua Jacquez of the United States Army, who is a
recruiter in El Paso, Texas, states that Right now, with the new tattoo policy in effect, we
currently turn away 1 in every 5 applicants that come through the door. (CNN, 2014) There are
kids and young adults busting down the doors of the recruiters office to fight for the country that
they live in and are getting denied for the artwork they wish to display on their bodies. Only

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time will tell when the Department of Defense determines what professionalism in the military
should be represented as.
What is the future for individuals with visible tattoos in the workplace/military?
According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, today in the United
States, 24 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 50 have one or more tattoos. (Pentagon
Channel, 2014) During the broadcast many service members were asked their opinion on having
tattoos in the military. For the most part they all agreed that as long as it was tasteful then it
should be allowed. But there were some who objected to tattoos stating that the service member
should wait until they are out of the military before permanently marking their body. (Pentagon
Channel, 2014)
In September of 2014 the Army decided to update their recently changed policy on
tattoos. The update grandfathered enlisted soldiers seeking a commission or appointment as long
as they have the endorsement of their commander. (Tan, 2015) The new Sergeant Major of the
Army Dan Dailey recently visited Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle Washington. During
his visit SMA Dailey sat down with a group of about 100 soldiers that were going through the
Warrior Leader Course. It was there that SMA Dailey decided to take another serious look into
the Armys new tattoo policy.
One soldier argued that the tattoos should be allowed, so long as they are not visible
when a soldier is in his/her dress uniform. SMA Dailey asked the group, So how many of you
agree with that? Almost all of the soldiers immediately raised their hands in agreement. After
the SMAs session with the soldiers he was surprised by the soldiers almost overwhelming
opposition to the current tattoo policy. (Tan, 2015) I thought this issue had settled quite a bit,
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he said. Obviously it has not. SMA Dailey then stated that he plans to visit all the installations
that are home to the Army Corps and divisions in the next 90 days to get more information and
input on this issue. (Tan, 2014)
Just recently a very popular fortune five hundred company announced radical changes to
its tattoo policy allowing the front of the house employees to exhibit their tattoos wherever they
wanted except for their face. For the longest time Starbucks employees had to hide their tattoos
under long clothing so they would not show. They have since changed their policy (as seen in
figure 2) thus allowing their employees to self-express themselves through their own individual
artwork. By doing this Starbucks believes that they are better able to deliver a genuine customer
experience that connects with the customer. On top of everything the Starbucks corporation
believes that all employees with the potential to be great all share certain key personality traits
whether they have body art or not. (Soloman, 2014)
Starbucks Corporation understands the reluctance
to employ those candidates who sport tattoos but
in turn challenges them to consider that perhaps
their thinking is out of date. They are leading the
Figure 2

pack and employing other corporations to evolve

just as quick, for the sake of the employees, the customers and the bottom line. (Soloman, 2014)
Ultimately in the end there are two view points for every issue. In this case we have
those who believe that one should be able to express themselves through tattoos no matter where
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they are on the body. These same people think that having visible tattoos in no way hinder their
ability to do their jobs and should not be discriminated against in the work place. On the other

side you have the people who think that it is unprofessional to have tattoos showing. These are
the people who are prone to hiring the employee without tattoos rather than the one who had
them. In the end, it has been shown from the beginning of time that tattoos are meaningful to
people from all different cultures. Times are changing and tattoos are not going
anywhere.because they are kinda permanent.
In more recent news, as of Thursday April 2, 2015, the Army has once again changed its
regulations on soldiers and tattoos. SMA Dan Daily visited multiple posts and talked to
numerous soldiers about this issue after his first encounter with the problem with the new
regulation when he was up at Fort Lewis. The new policy states that all soldiers may have
tattoos of any size and on any percentage of their body to include the back of the neck and their
hands. These tattoos will be acceptable as long as they are not extremist, indecent, sexist or
racist. (AR 670-1, 2015) The change was made because Army officials realized that the number
of potential recruits bearing skin art had grown enormously over the years.

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References

Army Regulation 670-1 (March 3, 2014) Wear and appearance of army uniforms and insignia.
Department of Defense
Benitez, G. (August 29, 2014) Army already considering changes to new tattoo policy. CNN
Lineberry, C. (Jan. 1, 2007) The ancient and mysterious history. Retrieved from
Smithsonian.com.
Lobell, J.A., & Powell, E.A. (2013) Ancient tattoos. Archeology, 66(6), 41-46
Pentagon Channel (May 10, 2014) Recon: Image Matters
Soloman, M. (October 17, 2014) Starbucks to allow tattoos, piercings: Wise or risky customer
service, HR moves? Forbes.com
Tan, M. (August 21, 2014) Army may ease tattoo policy. Army Times. USA Today
Tan, M. (2015) New SMA to take serious look at army tattoo policy. Army Times
Vanishingtattoo.com (2013)
Vergun, D. (March 31, 2014) Army tightens personal appearance, tattoo policy. Army News
Service