An inkling of change: Faculty talk about their tattoos
23.05.12
Is one of many professors across campus whose intricate body art hides beneath layers of sweater vests, slacks and other professional garb. From dragons to flowers to phrases in Elvish writing, these tattoos are often concealed from students' sight. But from in-class activities to informal conversations with students, young professors at Mac are increasingly bringing once-stigmatized tattoos into the classroom as a form of learning and accepted self-expression.
A changing image
For the Millennial generation, defined by a recent Pew Center study as teens and those in their twenties making the passage into adulthood, body art of all kinds, from tattoos to piercings, has become commonplace. According to the study, nearly four in 10 have a tattoo, and one in four have a piercing in some place other than their earlobe.
Despite growing acceptance among younger generations, tattoos are often still associated with rebellious teenagers or buff members of a bike gang. Yet according to visiting International Studies professor Dana Schumacher-Schmidt, body art is common in the professional world as well, particularly among young adults entering academia. "For people my age going into the academic profession, it is so common to have piercings and tattoos," Schumacher-Schmidt said. "I was with a group of English PhD students who were all going into jobs in academia, and we realized that everyone in the room had a piercing or said.
Source: Macalester College The Mac Weekly