Child Exploitation
Deborah Henry Henry 1
Mrs. Ratliff
Writing 121
8 April 2010
Human Canvas Did you ever think that when you got your first tattoo that you had just turned your body into a human canvas? Sometimes they can be private but other times they are on display for all to see. Most people see tattoo’s as a beautiful way of expressing themselves or as a tribute to a person or an event. Anyone considering getting one should put a lot of thought into the type and placement of a tattoo for many reasons. Safety is another important factor to think about. Tattoo’s can be a beautiful piece of artwork, but you need to be careful about where you get them. Tattooing has been around for centuries, but has just become very popular in the last several years. At one time tattoos were only associated with a bikers or gang members. These days about one-quarter of people under the age of 30 get at least one tattoo in their lifetime (Healey 1). People decide to get tattoos for varied reasons. Many do it as a memory of a loved one who is passed on or like my daughter who has “Walk With God” tattooed on the top of her right foot. As she puts it “It is just a daily reminder to keep me focused on what is right” (Henry). Others do it to express themselves or as a right of passage, like turning eighteen years old. As in my daughters case she waited until she was eighteen and up at college with her friends. To say the least I wasn’t very happy with her decision, I thought of it as a form of rebellion. However, it was her first real adult decision all on her own. After all who hasn’t done something like this when we were young? Any one who is considering getting a tattoo should do their research, especially when thinking about the place that they want to go to have it done. Check out the tattoo shop you plan to go to before hand. It should be clean and not some dirty back room behind a bar. Make sure the tattoo artist wears gloves, uses new disposable
Mrs. Ratliff
Writing 121
8 April 2010
Human Canvas Did you ever think that when you got your first tattoo that you had just turned your body into a human canvas? Sometimes they can be private but other times they are on display for all to see. Most people see tattoo’s as a beautiful way of expressing themselves or as a tribute to a person or an event. Anyone considering getting one should put a lot of thought into the type and placement of a tattoo for many reasons. Safety is another important factor to think about. Tattoo’s can be a beautiful piece of artwork, but you need to be careful about where you get them. Tattooing has been around for centuries, but has just become very popular in the last several years. At one time tattoos were only associated with a bikers or gang members. These days about one-quarter of people under the age of 30 get at least one tattoo in their lifetime (Healey 1). People decide to get tattoos for varied reasons. Many do it as a memory of a loved one who is passed on or like my daughter who has “Walk With God” tattooed on the top of her right foot. As she puts it “It is just a daily reminder to keep me focused on what is right” (Henry). Others do it to express themselves or as a right of passage, like turning eighteen years old. As in my daughters case she waited until she was eighteen and up at college with her friends. To say the least I wasn’t very happy with her decision, I thought of it as a form of rebellion. However, it was her first real adult decision all on her own. After all who hasn’t done something like this when we were young? Any one who is considering getting a tattoo should do their research, especially when thinking about the place that they want to go to have it done. Check out the tattoo shop you plan to go to before hand. It should be clean and not some dirty back room behind a bar. Make sure the tattoo artist wears gloves, uses new disposable
Cited: Healy, Bernadine. "Flesh, Not Canvas: Self-Expression Through Body Art Has Its Drawbacks." U.S. News & World Report. 146.1 (February 2009): 43. WilsonSelectPlus. 31 March 2010. Healy, Bernadine. "The Dangerous Art of the Tattoo." U.S. News & World Report. 146.1 (February 2009): 43. WilsonSelectPlus. 31 March 2010. Henry, Kathryn. Personal interview. March 27, 2010. Tielsch-Goddard, Anna. "Clinical issues of tattooing." Clinician Reviews 18.12 (2008): 1-9. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 8 Apr. 2010.