This feller was lucky. His kanji tattoo refers to being courageous or brave. However, not knowing Oriental languages, how can you be sure what you’re getting?
Read the text on tattoos out loud with your partner taking turns reading. Then enjoy the discussion questions. Help is provided below as to the meanings of different tattoos. You’ll also find a selection of not so successful tattoos.
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Tattoos have existed for thousands of years. In different cultures, they have been used to show a person’s social position, religious beliefs, achievements, group membership or personal history. Today, tattoos are especially common as a form of self-expression. People may choose a tattoo because they like the way it looks, want to remember an important person or event, or wish to communicate something about their identity.
The meaning of a tattoo can be deeply personal. A name, date, quotation, symbol or picture may represent love, loss, strength, freedom or a difficult experience that the person has overcome. Some people carefully plan their tattoos for years, whereas others make the decision more spontaneously. Tattoos may also be connected with fashion, music, sports, subcultures or celebrities.
Attitudes towards tattoos have changed considerably. In the past, visible tattoos were often associated with sailors, prisoners, criminals or rebellious groups. Although tattoos have become much more socially accepted, some stigma still remains. A person with large or visible tattoos may be judged as irresponsible, aggressive or unprofessional, even when there is no real reason for such assumptions. Employers may also have different policies concerning visible tattoos, particularly in customer service, healthcare, education or other formal professions.
A tattoo can influence the first impression a person gives. However, that impression may depend more on the observer’s values and prejudices than on the tattooed person’s actual character. A small, discreet tattoo may hardly be noticed, while a face tattoo or a full sleeve may attract immediate attention.
Getting a tattoo should be considered carefully because it is intended to be permanent. Tastes, relationships and personal circumstances may change over time. Tattoos can be removed with laser treatment, but removal is often expensive, painful and slow. It may require several treatments, and the skin may not return completely to its original appearance. For this reason, choosing the design, location and tattoo artist responsibly is important.
Ultimately, tattoos raise interesting questions about identity, freedom, beauty, prejudice and the right to control one’s own body.
Discussion Questions
Always strive to give grounds to your answers. Also ask further questions before you move on. As it happens, discussions in the cruel world aren’t scripted like this and the idea is to milk more out of a topic than just a brief negative or affirmative response. By trying to expand on any given prompt you’ll develop your commnication skills. Now let’s get those tongues wagging! 🙂
- Why do you think people choose to get tattoos?
- Can a tattoo be a meaningful form of self-expression? Why or why not?
- What kinds of personal experiences might people want to represent through tattoos?
- Do tattoos still carry a social stigma in your country?
- What stereotypes or prejudices are associated with tattooed people?
- What kind of first impression can a visible tattoo create?
- Is it fair to judge someone on the basis of their tattoos?
- Should employers be allowed to ask workers to cover visible tattoos?
- Are tattoos acceptable in every profession, or are some workplaces different?
- Do you think people may regret tattoos they got when they were young?
- Should there be a higher age limit for getting a tattoo without parental permission?
- Would you ever get a tattoo? Why or why not?
- What kind of tattoo would you choose, and what would it represent?
- Where on your body would you place a tattoo? Would you want it to be visible?
- How easy or difficult is it to remove a tattoo, and who should pay for the removal if someone regrets it?
