Perception of Tattoos and Piercings in the Service Industry

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine how people with visible body art, specifically tattoos and piercings, are perceived in today's society. Two main research questions were addressed: (i) Is there prejudice towards visible body art in the service industry? (ii) Does visible body art affect career opportunities in the service industry? In order to answer these questions, three groups of respondents were approached: employers, employees, and customers. The research project took into consideration the views of 12 service organisations and their managers to gain an insight into their opinions, existing regulations and recruitment policies. Eight tattooed and pierced professionals were interviewed to find out more about their life experiences with visible body art. Lastly, a group of 188 respondents was also surveyed to gauge their reactions. The study exposes latent stereotyping and stigma that exists among some respondents, albeit to a small extent. It also shows that, barring a few organisations, many companies hired employees with visible body art while declaring a strong focus on hygiene and aesthetics. The survey reveals some positive views of body art and shows that stereotypes are slowly changing to acceptance.