The meaning and popularity of tattoos seem to rise and fall through each generation. This means either parents seem to have a relatively positive view of tattoos while their children tend to avoid the artistic trend or vice versa; either way, consecutive generations just can't seem to agree on mutually accepting tattoos.
Despite the constant battle between generational taboos against tattoos and martyred artists constantly fighting for their inked art, society has kept the idea of permanently inking art on the body throughout history with no sign of going extinct in the future.
So why can't our society make up its' mind?
I grew up in a relatively conservative family and as a child, I fully adopted my parent's negative views of tattoos. I was taught to believe that tattoos were permanent and would only get tacky as you got older.
As I grew older, I noticed how much we change as we phase out of childhood and into adulthood. Our interests drastically change as do our opinions of fashion and art. What seems trendy and cool one minute turns tacky and old-fashioned the next.
These were just a few reasons why I remained against tattoos throughout high school. Weirdly enough, I accepted the existence of piercings and wasted hundreds of dollars getting my earlobes and nose pierced, all of which ended in either infection or inconvenience and annoying scar tissue. My weird infatuation with piercings is an obvious example of society's power to influence people's decisions.
College has been a challenging time when it came to trying to identify who I am and what I want to do for the rest of my life. Being able to separate myself from the crowd and pave my own individual path has been one of the most challenging and difficult transitions I have gone through in my life.
After taking some serious time think about it, I realized tattoos means something entirely different to the person who is receiving the tattoo than the public who observes the art. In that way, tattoos turn from a literal illustration into a more symbolic representation of whatever struggles, experiences, or memorabilia that person has conquered or is passionate about in their life.
My views of tattoos permanently changed when I decided to get a tattoo, not to fulfill the need to stay on trend with the current ink phase, but because I needed a physical reminder to grow and challenge myself, even in the face of personal struggles that threaten to stunt my growth. When asked what my tattoo means, my answer differs every time because the meaning of my tattoo changes to me as I either face new challenges or am reminded of how many fears and doubts I have conquered throughout my life.
The symbolic meaning of my tattoo is a daily reminder of how much we change, and all of us need to be reminded of how our past has shaped our future and how we continue to strive for growth and change, no matter how intimidating or unsure we are.
