Some thoughts on tattoos in the workplace.
My mother insisted that I wear long sleeves to my first day of law school. Yes, she is the protective kind that appreciates the opportunity to pick out what I wear because it brings us closer. It’s a shared moment and for this I truly appreciate her and the event. But hidden behind her good intentions are a collage of secrets which she, for my own good, hopes to hide.
Considerations of tattoos in the workplace have long been a thorn in the side of both employers and tattooed individuals alike. Despite their growing popularity, many workplaces still prefer employees without visible tattoos and many tattooed individuals feel alienated and disadvantaged at the prospect of pursuing employment as their true selves, tattoos brandished openly for the world to see. As a tattooed individual myself (my left arm is adorned with a half-sleeve of flowers and other designs), I feel this tension as I walk into “professional” spaces.
Perhaps much of my unease is self-inflicted. I fully admit that as a tattooed individual I am hyper-aware and hyper-sensitive to sideways glances or soft-uttered comments that may or may have actually taken place. But what I can say with certainty is that, whether it be from past employers or professors, arriving in a short-sleeved shirt has always brought with it different treatment, both positive and negative.
With my first semester of law school nearing its end and the promise of job interviews hopefully around the corner, I find myself at a crossroads of identity. I appreciate the social progress that has been made over the last decade, not only for tattooed individuals but for many other marginalized groups as well. But I cannot mentally escape from the thought that in one way or another I might miss out on an opportunity or be disadvantaged in some way should my shirt cuff slide to high up my forearm.
What I can say with confidence is that my classmates have been incredibly supportive and welcoming of me whether I come to class in a t-shirt or fully bundled up in a sweater as the weather continues to cool. It is my hope that as my classmates and I graduate, as will the generations who come after us, the professional workspace will become more open to individuals who do not fit the traditional norm as far as their appearance is concerned. Until then, however, writing this opinion has given me the confidence to present my tattoos openly and be the student, lawyer, and person that I want to be.