results from questionnaire for tattooed people

These are the individual results from a few questionnaires i had filled out by tattooed people. from these results it was clear that everyone bar one of the people i interviewed felt judged and have had job opportunities declined due to their tattoos and piercings. one even got denied entry to a night club due to her piercings. 

from these results along with my results from the online survey it is clear a negative stigma is still present in society toward tattoos and many people get discriminated and judged for expressing themselves. my brand wants to combat this and through the use of art and fashion create a culture which accepts people for who they are. 

Dilys' answers: 

Questions for those with tattoos.

1. How many tattoos/piercings do you have?

18 piercings... and it depends how you count tattoos! 13 maybe, I guess?

2. Where is your tattoo(s)/piercings? 

Tattoos: full left sleeve, right arm, back, sides, ribs, chest, thighs, right calf, and some doodles on my ankles!
Piercings: lots in my ears, 2 in nose, labret, 2 belly, nips, dermals.

3. Why did you get your tattoo(s)/piercings?

Piercings were a way of expressing myself as a younger person. I haven't had a  new piercing in a few years; I reckon I'm pretty much done with that. I suppose it was the most fun way to rebel as a high school & college student!

My tattoos are different because they were never an act of rebelling; my tattoos are purely for myself. Some of them are covering skin I didn't like, some rewrite bad memories, some are simply beautiful pieces of art my amazing artists which I wanted stamped on my body forever. All of them make me love myself a little bit more. It gives me a chance to take control over my body in a totally different way.

4. Would you say that your tattoo is a way of you expressing yourself to the world, a way of communicating with the people around you to show who you are?

Yes and no; it is definitely an expressive art form and in my case, it's not a hidden one. So yes, my tattoos probably do give a certain impression to others. But tattooing for me personally isn't a way of doing so, it just so happens that that's the case. I'm a pretty shy and anxious person so I don't actually like the attention that my tattoos get sometimes.

5. How do people usually react to seeing your tattoo(s)/piercings for the first time? 

It depends on the setting... I keep myself covered up at work, professional events, and when I visit my nan! Haha. The first time my colleagues saw me without a long-sleeved turtle neck on they were pretty shocked, and then my instagram did the rounds in the office and everyone was really surprised by the content.  These days my tattoos are just my skin, I'm so used to it, so I don't notice people's reactions when I'm out and about. I don't like drawing attention to myself, but I love to proudly wear art by amazing artists on my body.

6. Do you feel criticized or judged because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

 Honestly, no. I work hard to only surround myself & deal with good, accepting, open-minded and open-hearted people. And the criticisms and judgements of anybody else don't mean anything. I'm sure there are many people i've encountered through work or daily life who don't like the way i've decorated my body, or judge my personality based on my appearance, but they are welcome to do so. It doesn't affect me... There are only a few opinions that I care about.

7. Does your family and friends except them or no? Or do you not care how they feel about it in truth?

For the most part! My mother isn't a fan but she deals with it. My dad thinks it's great – he's always been a huge supporter of me expressing myself in every way, shape and form and I know that he loves the art aspect. My grandparents on my mom's side don't know (don't tell them, they'd kill me) and every time I visit them I wrap up from head to toe even in the middle of summer, I'm afraid what they will think of me. My friends and my girlfriend are super accepting of how I decorate myself.

8. When getting a job have you been looked down on for having a tattoo(s)/piercings?

I always covered up for job interviews, including taking the piercings out of my face. Although we *shouldn't* be dealing with discrimination against tattoos in this day and age, the sad fact is that many/most employers would and do. I wouldn't risk going through an interview with all my skin on show; I think it's always better to get the job and then start smashing through perceived stereotypes! I believe that my presence in my place of work has actually helped some of my employers and colleagues get over any perceived stigma that they had carried against tattooed people.

9. Do you feel accepted in public when people see you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

Yes, but also I don't take too much notice. I reckon I've had more funny looks off strangers in public since shaving my head versus getting tattooed!

10. Do people question your morals or character because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

People who don't know me may well do, but anyone who does know me knows that I am absolutely solid in my morals. I like to think of myself as a good person, and I am constantly striving to live my life in a way that causes as little harm as possible.

11. What do you think your tattoos/piercings say about you?

You tell me, I have no idea! That I like tattoos? I don't know how you could ever judge someone solely on their skin.

Jack Allender's answers: 

Questions for those with tattoos.

1. How many tattoos/piercings do you have?

too many tattoos to count and three piercings

2. Where is your tattoo(s)/piercings? 

whole body covered in tattoos apart from my skull. And both ears and nose pierced 

3. Why did you get your tattoo(s)/piercings?

self expression

4. Would you say that your tattoo is a way of you expressing yourself to the world, a way of communicating with the people around you to show who you are?

yes of course

5. How do people usually react to seeing your tattoo(s)/piercings for the first time? 

depends who it is. other tattooed people compliment the artwork whereas non tattooed people look shocked

6. Do you feel criticized or judged because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

with my friends and family no but in public yes. they look at me as if I'm a criminal.

7. Does your family and friends except them or no? Or do you not care how they feel about it in truth?

yes, apart from my grandad but no I'm not bothered

8. When getting a job have you been looked down on for having a tattoo(s)/piercings?

im a tattooist so no but before i became a tattooist i was turned down from a part time job at my local shop because of my tattoos.

9. Do you feel accepted in public when people see you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

50/50. somedays i do, somedays i don't. depends what sort of people i come across.

10. Do people question your morals or character because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

 used to a lot more but it still happens. the older generation look at me like i am a criminal

 11. What do you think your tattoos/piercings say about you?

 don't know, i don't really care. i get them for me and me only 

Amber's answers: 

Questions for those with tattoos.

1. How many tattoos/piercings do you have?

12 tattoos and ten piercings

2. Where is your tattoo(s)/piercings? 

both my arms tattooed, my back and my side. and my ears, lips, nose, nipples and cheeks pierced

3. Why did you get your tattoo(s)/piercings?

self love, expression, marking a change in my life

4. Would you say that your tattoos is a way of you expressing yourself to the world, a way of communicating with the people around you to show who you are?

yeah i suppose but thats not the sole reason for my tattoos

5. How do people usually react to seeing your tattoo(s)/piercings for the first time? 

tattoos fine but piercings i get a lot of looks and stares.

6. Do you feel criticized or judged because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

yes definitely. only last year i got denied entry into one of Worcester's night clubs because of my tattoos. 

7. Does your family and friends except them or no? Or do you not care how they feel about it in truth?

friends do and some of my family do. my grandparents hate them and always tell me to take my piercings out and that i will regret my tattoos but i don't care what they think. 

8. When getting a job have you been looked down on for having a tattoo(s)/piercings?

i am a piercer so in my profession i suppose its normal aha. but i have been turned down for jobs in the past or have been told to take all piercings out and cover tattoos 

9. Do you feel accepted in public when people see you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

more nowadays but there are always going to be people who judge no matter what someone does, from hair colour to tattoos to what clothes they wear so i don't pay attention

10. Do people question your morals or character because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

 yes! if i go through an airport i get checked more than my friends. if i go to the bank i get funny looks and if i go into a shop the employees always seem to be watching me as if i might steal something

 11. What do you think your tattoos/piercings say about you?

that i am myself and no-one else!!

Dan's answers:

Questions for those with tattoos.

1. How many tattoos/piercings do you have?

20 tattoos and five piercings

2. Where is your tattoo(s)/piercings? 

tattoos on fingers, arms, chest, legs and stomach. piercings on ears, nose, nipples and lip

3. Why did you get your tattoo(s)/piercings?

started as rebellion but changed to me just expressing myself and trying to be an individual

4. Would you say that your tattoo is a way of you expressing yourself to the world, a way of communicating with the people around you to show who you are?

yes

5. How do people usually react to seeing your tattoo(s)/piercings for the first time? 

fine i suppose

6. Do you feel criticized or judged because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

sometimes. if i am in a corporate environment then yes but not in work as i am a barman at a young, modern bar

7. Does your family and friends except them or no? Or do you not care how they feel about it in truth?

yeah they all do, they know I'm just being myself

8. When getting a job have you been looked down on for having a tattoo(s)/piercings?

yes in the past but i figured if they dont want me because of a few tattoos or piercings then they aren't the type of company i want to work for.

9. Do you feel accepted in public when people see you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

yes but still get the odd look and stare

10. Do people question your morals or character because you have a tattoo(s)/piercings?

 i wouldn't say question my morals or character but i suppose they might think negatively of me maybe, i don't know

11. What do you think your tattoos/piercings say about you?

honestly don't know