By Josh Couillard
4/29/10
Tattoo culture is quickly finding its way into the mainstream via the arms, legs and torsos of young adults. What was once reserved for the stereotypes of bikers, outlaws and rock stars has made its way onto college campuses across America.
Today, 10 percent of people in the United States are tattooed, and 17 percent of those are between the ages of 18 and 24.
A recent study in "The Social Science Journal" linked the greater number of tattoos a college student had to the likelihood he/she was to participate in deviant behavior. More specifically, "this study reports stark differences in the levels of deviant behavior among those with just one tattoo versus those with four or more."
In fact, the study states that 70 percent of students with four or more tattoos admitted to being arrested one or more times for something other than a simple traffic violation.
But this information does not seem to resonate well with some Massachusetts college students who said that tattoos are more a means of self-expression rather than a sign of social deviance or rebellion.
Mike Martin, an Arts Management student at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, has five tattoos. He personally sees little connection between tattoos and deviant behavior with college students.
"I'm pretty straight laced," said Martin. "I cannot even see myself committing any sort of crime, not even shoplifting."
Martin, who has never been arrested, said he is happy walking that line between self-expression and professionalism. His calves are covered with robots, paying tribute to his favorite band, The Get Up Kids. His thighs are adorned with custom pieces representing both his love for music and comic books. On his right arm is a traditional blue rose representing a line from his favorite play, "The Glass Menagerie."
Martin's ultimate goal is to run his own jazz café. He hopes to excel in the business management world, despite having the figures of the study stacked against him.
"[Being tattooed] does come with a stigma from time to time when people don't understand it, so you've got to be able to get passed that," said Martin. "As sad as it sounds, if you go into an interview with tattoos, they automatically have this preconceived conclusion."
Though that conclusion might sound stereotypical, the researchers of the study found similar results. "The level of deviance reported by respondents with low levels of body art is much closer to those with none than to those with multiple tattoos," said researchers.
Researchers complied data from 1,753 students from four colleges, two public and two private.
The study, published in late 2009, shows that only 8 percent of non-tattooed college students were arrested one or more times for something other than traffic violations. That number jumps to 12 percent when the subject has two or more tattoos. However, what the study fails to take into consideration is the size and subject matter of the tattoos.
That has got some college students questioning the validity of the research. "I think back in the day with the Hell's Angels, that study might have been true," said Lisa Frazier, a freshman at UMass Lowell with three tattoos. "I think they gave us a bad name."
Frazier, 25, is getting a late start to her college career, but said she is intent on following her passion to someday work with teens. "I want go into school psychology and help teenagers directly," said Frazier.
As far as tattoos go, she said she will continue getting them being mindful of their placement so as not to impede on her professional goals. "I refuse to get tattoos that aren't easily coverable," said Frazier. "In schools, people have to cover up. They can't show tattoos, so I think as long as I wear a jacket I'll be okay."
She, like Martin, has never been arrested. "I've never been in trouble. I hardly speed, never mind do illegal things. I've never done drugs, and I don't drink. I've never even smoked a cigarette."
Though the study does put into general fact the link between social deviance and tattoos among college students, Martin said the real test lies within the wearer of the tattoo.
"Getting a tattoo is not going to change you," he said. "If you're a good person, then you're a good person."