Tattoos and identity.

• Main Author: Chow, Charlotte Jia Min.
• Other Authors: Caroline Pluss
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Societies
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15177
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Tattoos make a statement about the person who wears it, but it is often misinterpreted because its messages do not always translate in the same way to different groups of people in a society. Although tattoos have become more widely accepted in the Singapore society generally, they are still regarded as an act of deviance and frown upon in the workplace. This research paper studies the link between tattoos and identity in Singapore. To do so, it examines the purposes that tattoos serve for people of different age groups and the influences of tattoos on people with, and without tattoos. It also reveals the public perception of tattoos. My data suggests that for males and females in the age group of 18-30, tattoos represent their personal beliefs and their sense of self; and for tattooed individuals in the age group of 40-60, tattoos serve as a symbol of role transitions.