Last week we asked you whether a visible tattoo was ever acceptable to women lawyers. And wow did you guys respond — roughly 1500 of you weighed in. Although the poll is still open, here are the results thus far:
- 43% of you said a professional woman could never have a visible tattoo
- 30% of you said it was fine if it could be covered by clothes or makeup
- 12% of you said only so long as it wasn’t visible when you shook hands or interviewed
- 8% said sure, a visible tattoo was fine
The commenting section was where things got ugly — some commenters accused the reader who had e-mailed of already having gotten the tattoo, and just seeking assurance. Some commenters referred to “tramp stamps” (which, we agree with the commenter who noted that that’s only generally referring to a lower back tattoo). The extremely helpful “billybob” opined that tattoos were for hookers, not lawyers. Quite a few readers noted that tattoos were only in style in the late ’80s.
Others wrote that tattoos could be a distraction, and anything that distracts is a bad thing. Strategic business communications specialist Gretchen Neels wrote in to note that she knows many a professional woman who regrets having gotten a visible tattoo in her youth, noting that over time “that tiny heart can morph into a dark blob.” Gretchen gave the valuable advice that if you want to get promoted, the tattoo could be seen as a lapse in judgment by people who would otherwise hire or promote you. This was echoed by commenter “robbit,” who wrote that he did not hire people with tattoos, and if people showed him their ink after the fact then he filed it away as “an example of poor judgment, under career killer.”
Our favorite comment was this one:
As with many things, it seems like a situation where you have to weigh the risk that a tattoo will hurt your career . . . against your desire not to sublimate your entire personality in service of some perfect, conservatively feminine-professional ideal. The answer is probably different for most women, but I imagine many wouldn’t be happy in a job that was going to judge them too harshly for a half inch daisy on their right ankle anyway.”
Another commenter also noted that she herself had a nose ring and a tattoo and it has not thus far hurt her career. She noted that “at some point in your career, you have to try to find a job that fits you, rather than the other way around. If an employer won’t promote me based on my body art, I don’t want to devote the majority of my waking hours to working there anyway.”
Last week, we said that we thought a tiny inner ankle tattoo was the outer limits of what might be acceptable. We stick by that — our reader could always wear a pantsuit or dark hose to interviews and court appearances. Ultimately, though, one must find a job that suits your personality — and not change too much to suit your job. This seems to be one of the biggest struggles for young women in conservative professions — and we’ve yet to find an easy answer.
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Great post!
I’m heavily tattooed, and I have a simple rule: tattoos are not business wear.
Fast forward to 2011: At a recent top-management retreat of a major state agency in the Mid-Atlantic, a large proportion of men and women admitted having at least one tattoo. None were visible, however. However, at meetings with the top-flight consulting firm that agency uses, I have seen several visibly tattooed women in partner-track positions. I don’t think anyone cares anymore, as long as the art is not offensive, tasteless or excessive. If you can pull down an undergrad from an Ivy and are willing to work 80 hours a week, I think that’s probably enough to get hired and promoted. But unusual piercings should be taken out for office wear or avoided. I almost never see them, aside from maybe a tiny nose stud. Also forget all the nonsense about wearing pantyhose and only low heels. In our shop, everyone is bare and 4-inch heels are common.
I have 3, two of which are not visible and one of which is on the outside of my right ankle. It’s an M-Dot – the brand of Ironman triathlons. I’ve never had anything but positive comments on it. But of course those who don’t comment may well have a negative reaction. Frankly after swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles in under 16 hours, I don’t care what anyone thinks. It is my personal symbol of strength and perseverence. So I wear skirt suits to court whenever I like.
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