Perception of Tattoos and Piercings in the Service Industry

This paper attempts to examine how people with visible body-art (tattoos and piercings) are perceived in today’s society. Two main research questions were addressed: 1. Are there prejudices towards visible body-art which exist in the service industry? 2. Does visible body-art affect the 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 twelve 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 one hundred and eighty-eight respondents was also surveyed to gauge their reactions on the subject. The study exposes latent stereotyping and stigma that exists amongst the respondents, albeit to a small extent. It also shows that barring a few organisations, many companies hired employees with visible body-art although with a strong focus on hygiene and aesthetics. The survey reveals a some positive views of body-art and shows that stereotypes are slowly changing to acceptance.