Minors are Getting Tattoos without Their Parents’ Consent
Morin (2020) states that tattoos are among the several forms of body art that have emerged over the years. Many people, both teenagers, and adults have opted for these forms of body arts as a form of self-expression, or because they are deemed cool or beautiful. However, there has been a lot of debate going around the topic of allowing minors to get tattoos based on the general impact that they are said to have both on their health, social lives, and their future. These debates prompted numerous states to revise their laws on body art as well as the minimum age for individuals to acquire various forms of body art. There is however, no way to evaluate the negative impacts that people have faced as a result of their tattoos (Bradford, 2019). Therefore, there is hardly a valid reason to deny minors from acquiring tattoos without their parents’ permission.
To begin with, tattoos are a form of self-expression. This means that minors that seek to obtain tattoos to express themselves are trying to deal with a situation or discover themselves. While parents are an important figure in a minor’s life, allowing them to grow on their own is essential for their development, not just in school but also socially. For instance, depending on a minor’s personality or childhood experiences, they may have a hard time sharing their emotions with adults or even their peers (Porter, 2020). Some express themselves through different types of art, be it singing, drawing, painting, or even acting. Body art is no different as it enables the individual to develop in the best way they can. It is also important to discover oneself while young as it saves them from getting overwhelmed when they are older and have to deal with more complex issues like their education and careers (Porter, 2020). Further, some forms of self-expression can help individuals –including minors – out of dark times. For instance, tattooing to represent a lost loved one can help minors and adults alike cope with the trauma (Checkland, 2017). Dictating how any pain is dealt with is a choice that only the victim should make.
Secondly, tattoos foster autonomy (Checkland, 2017). Acquiring a tattoo gives one a sense of independence. This little step can mean a lot to a minor, especially when going through a rough patch. Parents need to acknowledge that minors are individuals that should be nurtured to make their own decisions from a young age to enable them to grow into sound decision-makers (Stories of the Ink, 2018). Additionally, removing restrictions that prevent minors from acquiring tattoos without parental consent serves as a basis for developing effective decision-making skills that can be used later in life. For instance, lifting a restriction does not mean that all minors will opt for the tattoo (Porter, 2020). The ability to choose between getting one or not will build and improve their reasoning in other aspects of their lives as well.
Additionally, not all tattoos are permanent. Rather than deny children consent to acquire tattoos, it is more important to enlighten them about the benefits of temporary tattoos than permanent ones, without domineering. This way, they can make a better decision on what works for them and what is not likely to affect their future. For instance, while it is true that some organizations can disqualify individuals based on the visibility of their tattoos, not all minors are interested in being employed (Porter, 2020). Some may be more interested in nurturing their talents on their own, and thus, their tattoos pose no real threat to their careers (Stories of the Ink, 2018). Moreover, acquiring tattoos is the equivalent of getting a face painting, except that sometimes it can be permanent. Parents should be as accommodating with tattoos as they are with face paintings. If anything, denying minors the freedom to act a certain way only makes them more rebellious. Thus, parents would rather discuss the negative impacts of acquiring tattoos with their minors – most of which can be avoided (Checkland, 2017). For instance, a minor that knows the effects of obtaining tattoos but still wants one may seek professional services and proceed to get one in a less visible body part, thereby effectively avoiding the impacts.
While exercising freedom of choice in the acquisition of tattoos, there is a need to seek a professional tattoo artist when indulging (Thinking Outside The Boxe, 2017). This is because obtaining tattoos from non-professionals has been known to lead to health complications such as infections, keloid formations, and allergic reactions. This contradicts the point of allowing minors to get tattoos without parental consent because, in the event of a health complication, the parent(s) would have to take responsibility for it and take the minors to the hospital (Schroeder, 2017).
In conclusion, despite the health complications that may arise from unprofessional tattoo services, the reasons for supporting the acquisition of tattoos by minors without the need for parental consent outweigh the shortcomings, which is why the restrictions should be lifted. For instance, minors become better decision-makers because of it, express themselves much better and obtain a sense of independence that is detrimental to their development as individuals. More so, the health complications can be avoided by seeking professional tattoo services, making it more reasonable to leave this decision in the hands of minors and replacing parental consent with parental guidance.
References
Bradford, K. (2019, March 3). Tattooing and Body Piercing: State Laws, Statuses, and Regulations. NCSL. Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/tattooing-and-body-piercing.aspx
Checkland, J. (2017, September 25). 4 Reasons Why Tattoos Are The Perfect Form of Self Expression. Junkee. Retrieved from https://junkee.com/tattoos-perfect-form-self-expression/125104
Morin, A. (2020, January 21). Age Limits for Body Piercing and Tattooing by State. Verywell Family. Retrieved from https://www.verywellfamily.com/ages-for-body-piercing-and-tattooing-2611114
Porter, H. C. (2020, March 19). Tattoos: A Form of Self-Expression. Tat Ring. Retrieved from https://tatring.com/getting-tattooed/Tattoos-A-form-of-Self-Expression
Schroeder, K. (2017, September 18). Teens Looking To Get a Tattoo? What Pediatricians Want You To Know? Dayton Daily News. Retrieved from https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/teens-looking-get-tattoo-what-pediatricians-want-you-know/WhXlQIMgEXZtplzhQfIhrL/
Stories of the Ink. (2018, October 17). How Tattoos are The Perfect Form of Self-Expression. Stories of the Ink. Retrieved from https://www.storiesoftheink.com/how-tattoos-are-the-perfect-form-of-self-expression/
Thinking Outside The Boxe. (2017, March 29). Should Minors Be Allowed To Get Tattoos (If They Have Parental Permission)? Thinking Outside The Boxe. Retrieved from https://thinkingoutsidetheboxe.com/2017/03/29/should-minors-be-allowed-to-get-tattoos-if-they-have-parental-permission/