It is 2016, and it's time to stray away from the unacceptable belief that tattoos make a person unprofessional. Yes, more and more companies, organizations, workplaces, etc., are starting to be less strict on tattoos. But the fact of the matter is that there are still places that won't hire someone based on their tattoos. And the real question is why?

Tattoos have been around since humans have been on this Earth. Then a generation of people (The Baby Boomers) just decided that tattoos made a person look like a criminal, and they were no longer accepted in the workplace. Just because people don't understand the meaning of tattoos or don't like tattoos doesn't mean people who have tattoos are bad people. By not hiring people based on tattoos, the workplace is discriminating against people with tattoos. Yes, I just threw out the word 'discrimination' for tattooed people. Years ago, tattoos might have been considered unprofessional and "trashy," but they are becoming more common all around the nation, and tattoos are being considered more as art than anything. We can't sit here and say that people with tattoos are unprofessional, when some of the most respected people in our communities have them. There are teachers, police officers, politicians, and parents all around the nation with tattoos. They are role models, not for their tattoos, but for their jobs and the duties they handle every day. We can't judge someone based on their tattoos, just because there are people who think it's a sin, or who disagree with their decision. If we judged and criticized every person who did something that we didn't agree with, then we would be lonely, because I can guarantee, that no two people believe the exact same thing, and think the same way.

Tattoos can mean anything to a person. Whether it’s a quote, a dedication to a loved one, or simply a piece of art they enjoy, tattoos are just another way to express ourselves. Some even believe that their tattoos help define who they are. So why are they so looked down upon while working? Imagine this: you are at the doctor’s office. Your nurse walks in to take your blood pressure when you suddenly notice that she has a small tattoo on her arm. Do you freak out and refuse to let her take your blood pressure? Of course not. It’s an absurd thought to think that a picture on someone’s skin better determines their medical knowledge than their nursing certification and college degree. Now that we’ve determined that a tattoo doesn’t define intelligence, we need to get rid of this universal stigma that it does. We shouldn’t have to hide our ink in fear of not getting hired because of it. My body is not my resume, and it does not show how qualified or unqualified I am to do my job. If things like gender, race, sexuality, or age don’t play a factor in the workplace, then my tattoos shouldn’t either.

Jobs are becoming more and more accepting of tattoos. Society is becoming comfortable with teachers, caregivers, doctors, police officers, and lawyers sporting tattoos. Parents are caring less and less about whether or not the people handling their children have visible tattoos. The stigma is finally dying, but it’s time to get rid of it once and for all. It’s 2016. The time is now. The world is constantly changing, but tattoos seem to be a trend that will not be going away anytime soon. Outdated policies on tattoos need to be changed, otherwise in a few years there may not be any non-tattooed people left to hire.

So, let's start accepting tattoos everywhere. If you don't like them, that's fine. You're entitled to your opinion. What you're not entitled to do is withhold a job or internship because someone has a tattoo.