Tattoos leaving a larger mark on society
Anna Webster
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
Tattoos of a tamarin monkey, a DNA strand and a sifaka lemur catch students' attention as anthropology professor Richard Lawler gestures during lectures; the forearm ink represents educational milestones - and academia's increased acceptance of body art.
Once considered the marks of misfits and sailors, tattoos are becoming more publicly accepted and widespread in the college community, Boston University students and faculty said. A 2006 Pew Research Center survey showed that 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have a tattoo; 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds reported going under the needle.
"Most people get tattoos to mark an event in their life," Lawler said. "What I marked was what I learned."
Each of Lawler's tattoos represents a degree he earned. The DNA strand represents his bachelor's degree and the tamarin monkey, his master's degree. When Lawler completed his doctorate, his dissertation advisor paid for the third tattoo, a lemur, he said.
"I don't think any of my students want tattoos," Lawler said, of footing the bill for his students. "But if they do and they finish, I'll buy them one -- or two if they finish quickly."
Lawler said almost everyone loves his tattoos when he goes to academic conferences, and they quickly become conversation centerpieces. Occasionally, there are times when he meets more traditionally minded people and he rolls down his sleeves, he said.
"Tattoos are commonplace; no longer taboo, no longer what sailors get," Lawler said.
"More and more common, you see people getting creative with their tattoos that are custom-made to make their tattoo set apart."
Lawler is not the only person inspired by his college experiences to get inked. David Chasse, a School of Education sophomore, said being away from home made it easier for him to get his body art than when he lived at home.
"If I were at home, I wouldn't know where to go," Chasse said. "I think people get their first tattoos when they are in college because it's their first chance to be completely on their own, and they are not under control of anyone."
Once considered the marks of misfits and sailors, tattoos are becoming more publicly accepted and widespread in the college community, Boston University students and faculty said. A 2006 Pew Research Center survey showed that 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have a tattoo; 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds reported going under the needle.
"Most people get tattoos to mark an event in their life," Lawler said. "What I marked was what I learned."
Each of Lawler's tattoos represents a degree he earned. The DNA strand represents his bachelor's degree and the tamarin monkey, his master's degree. When Lawler completed his doctorate, his dissertation advisor paid for the third tattoo, a lemur, he said.
"I don't think any of my students want tattoos," Lawler said, of footing the bill for his students. "But if they do and they finish, I'll buy them one -- or two if they finish quickly."
Lawler said almost everyone loves his tattoos when he goes to academic conferences, and they quickly become conversation centerpieces. Occasionally, there are times when he meets more traditionally minded people and he rolls down his sleeves, he said.
"Tattoos are commonplace; no longer taboo, no longer what sailors get," Lawler said.
"More and more common, you see people getting creative with their tattoos that are custom-made to make their tattoo set apart."
Lawler is not the only person inspired by his college experiences to get inked. David Chasse, a School of Education sophomore, said being away from home made it easier for him to get his body art than when he lived at home.
"If I were at home, I wouldn't know where to go," Chasse said. "I think people get their first tattoos when they are in college because it's their first chance to be completely on their own, and they are not under control of anyone."
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Andrew Campbell
posted 4/29/08 @ 2:44 PM EST
Jimmy Buffett said it best in song: Tattoos are "a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling..."
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