Has the tattoo become a symbol of acceptance in society?

Collingwood's Dane Swan with some of his tattoos
Photo: www.3aw.com.au

Walking down the street on any given day around Australia, you will see many people sporting a tattoo. The sizes and designs vary, but it seems that to be socially accepted you almost need to have one. Yes they are an individual’s choice. However in a society where instant gratification is becoming the norm, it appears perplexing that most people would choose to express themselves in such a permanent way.

Part of the reasoning behind this entry is that I have been in conversations with people in the recent past that have ridiculed my choice not to have a tattoo. But more importantly have laughed at my preference that my partner not have one (or if she does have one … not to get anymore). From my perspective, it appears that I cannot be critical of this cultural change but people with a tattoo can criticise my choice not to have one. This is slightly paradoxical given that people who choose to have a tattoo make such a choice.

There are certain races where the tattoo is a status symbol and has deep meaning and the Maori immediately come to mind. This type of cultural reasoning is logical, but in Australia a cultural change towards having tattoos has gradually been occurring over the last five to ten years. So why has this change been occurring?

Is it the influence of sport on our society? Just consider this, how many AFL or NRL players can you think of that do not have a tattoo. Or to take it further, let’s include Cricketers and Swimmers as well. (Admittedly I am looking at this from a predominantly Australian viewpoint, but we could include sports such as soccer as well). Not too many…I would have thought. Some of these tattoos celebrate an achievement or have some significance which is fair enough.

Such is the fascination about tattoos in Australian Society, an article by Jim Tucker on Australian Diver Melissa Wu in the Herald Sun on May 30, quotes the following: “Wu has her Olympic rings tattoo boldly at the top of her right thigh with a heart-shaped twist on the five interlocking rings.”

I understand Melissa’s choice to have the tattoo, but what relevance does this have to the article in question? None, the article is basically about the coming of age of an elite young sportsperson who has a better understanding of what is required to be competitive at the highest level in her chosen sport. The fact she has a tattoo on her right thigh should not matter.

Or is it simply a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality? If so, has our society been manipulated so much by the media or have we become so listless that we need to identify so greatly with our sport stars or do we have this overwhelming need to “fit” in. Most of my heroes are Sports Stars and I easily identify with their tenacity and determination, but I have enough nous to distinguish between sports and reality.

Personally, I think it is an element of both sport and the desire to fit into society. The “Dumbing” down of Australian Society by the media is a worrying trend that transcends over many aspects of Australian culture. So the message that certain elements in the media are espousing could be summarised as “If you want to be successful like our sports stars and be accepted within society you need to have a tattoo”. To be honest I am not sure that is the correct message to promote!!