Hi there... all cool, tattooed Mummys!!! Anyone face prejudice due to tattoos????

Jeanne - posted on 05/27/2009

I experienced prejudice when I got my first tattoo 22 years ago (I"m 40 if you are wondering)....but now not as much. Both me and my husband are tattooed...he's got sleeves on both arms and we do not try to hide them in any way. We both have a biker look and if people would like to assume we are bad people well so be it. I have faced more prejudice from my family than anyone else...they are all pretty straight laced and I am the rebel...but they figured it out pretty quickly I would do whatever I wanted anyways so they stopped nagging me about it. So long live my tatts...I love em and look forward to getting more.

Ashlyn - posted on 07/18/2011

YEP all the time. I think it also has somewhat to do with my age. I'm 21 yet look 16 and then my back is COVERED in tattoos. I have 13. So when I take my daughter to the pool and I have on my swimsuit I get a lot of looks, but I've learned to just ignore them :) I love my tattoos

User - posted on 07/18/2011

go girl, dont worry what ppl think . you are who you are ,so enjoy your ink work ';';';'

Marika - posted on 05/16/2011

I have a few tattoos and piercings. It's disappointing to hear that my parenting skills may be judged upon my appearance.

Natalie - posted on 04/30/2011

So far I have 8 tattoos. And I do get the 'look' as though I am some kind of criminal! Yesterday in the supermarket I had the 'look' from an older woman.
I once got asked why I don't wish to look normal! So I asked the woman ''please define normal,because in my eyes not one person can be 'normal' as it is such a hard thing to be due to the fact we are all different'' ... she didn't quite know what to say to that!

Chandia - posted on 03/18/2010

I have people be kind of scared to come up to me and talk to me at work - I have vampire bites on my neck and some people just see one and think it is a bullet hole - once they get to know me they are cool

Ellen - posted on 03/06/2010

i get crap all the time i have over 50 pieces of art and im jewish too where i work they are always trying to tell me to wear long sleeves but there is nothing in the employee handbook about tattoos or piercings.

Jess - posted on 02/13/2010

*Person looks at tattoo, looks at baby, looks at tattoo, looks at me as if to say "Why do you have a child?!*

I have a large thigh piece, and I get this ALL the time, hehe. I find it amusing that people can be so narrow minded!

Be proud of your tats, mumma! At least you're not an unindividual robot like the ones that stare! :P

x

Alex - posted on 01/31/2010

haha, when i first moved to dallas i was shopping in a grocery store. this elderly woman, she must have been in her late 70's, followed me through the store for about 5 mins untill she could catch up with me just to tell me I looked disgusting and should cover myself up. I was wearing a t-shirt and capris, you could only see my arms! Mean old bitch!

Jessie - posted on 01/30/2010

I get the samething from my sons principal, she does that also when I show tattoos and every time I color my hair again. My husband and I remain the same no matter what prejudices we face for being who we are, and doing what we like. My son said the kids in his class think I look funny (diffrent), I said what did you say to them, he said she is funny and I like it. It made me laugh. My children do and will im sure always appreciate us for just being us and unashamed.

Sarina - posted on 01/20/2010

I have also. I get comments like... Another one really do u think tat is a wise dicission.Well I love tatts they are art. We live a community that acts all upty but seriously if the homes could talk. lol. I do have some that need to becovered but other than that I ove allmy tattz. My suggestion is to flaunt the ones you like (tattz) and when u catch them staring or something just hand them a card of the tatt shop of your choice without saying a word.

Lindsey - posted on 12/17/2009

Quoting Kayla:

To Lindsay Price: First off, as a doctor she should have know that you can't push the ink into your back because the hollow needles that they use don't punch out your skin it makes a small u-shaped incision and the needle slides in... And how unprofessional of her to say something like that to you when it is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life.... And yes they are supposed to feel for it not look at it...

Oh believe me I know this! Plus that tattoo is like 5 years old. She actually suggested I go have a portion of my tattoo removed for future reference. I don't think she understands how tattoo removal works either.  It was just absurd! I was shocked that she had done that to me. Usually I am much wittier and would have had something to say to her. I suppose the idea that these people were about to cut me open helped me to bite my tongue! Not to mention the fact that I was extremely nervous and moments away from surgery. There have been ignorant people that have said various things to me in an effort to hurt me but that one takes the cake! I thought she was full of it anyway- but couldn't understand why she felt the need to lecture me and use scare tactics on the day of my sons delivery.  I STILL wish I had filed some type of complaint. I personally think people in the field of LD need to have compassion for all moms- regardless of judgements they wish to pass.

(Sidenote: I was also told once by a nurse (I also have a full sleeve in progress) That I had to leave a place on my other arm about the size of a quarter for injections. She said they were unable to give some injections in heavily tattooed areas b/c they can't see allergic reactions clearly otherwise.)

Thank you, though, for reassuring me she was full of it. :) I didn't have any doubt.

Kayla - posted on 12/14/2009

To Lindsay Price: First off, as a doctor she should have know that you can't push the ink into your back because the hollow needles that they use don't punch out your skin it makes a small u-shaped incision and the needle slides in... And how unprofessional of her to say something like that to you when it is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life.... And yes they are supposed to feel for it not look at it...

Kayla - posted on 12/14/2009

My husband does tattoos and piercing (PROFESSIONALLY) and I am covered from head to toe have have many piercings. I get looks all the time but never had anyone say anything, but my older sister who got me into the industry has had people talk shit to her... she told me that this older couple came up to her at Walmart or someplace like that and said to her face " People like you shouldn't be able to breed"... I could not imagine how that was... And dear god I would feel sorry if someone EVER done something like that too me!!

Lindsey - posted on 12/12/2009

The worst thing I can think of- And I couldn't make this up if I tried! There I was slumped over the nurse on the operating table getting my spinal for my c-section, and the anesthesialogist starts in on me. Telling me if I was smart I would've left a blank space in the middle of my back to make her job easier. And it wouldn't be on her if she pushed ink into my back with the hollow needle and I got a massive infection because I wasn't thinking. I was quiet and shocked- she eventually gave me the spinal and I gave birth to a healthy baby and I didn't die from any infection.. But really? C'mon lady- I'm just as frightneed as anyone else here! A little sympathy maybe? Besides aren't u supposed to feel for the space not look for it? Didn't even run through the... let me know if this happens list, As I'm asking- is my leg supposed to be tingling like this? It was pretty ridiculous! And I probably should've filed a complaint. But after I held my boy I suppose I forgot all about it until it was too late.

Jennifer - posted on 11/20/2009

Good for you. I do notice some prejudice toward the marked....(tattooed) I love the looks I get on play dates or when I meet other moms. I am a professional who works with children for a living (I'm a therapist for children with psychological special needs). I still get strange looks when I enter a new client's home or school for a session. The reaction is even worse when I tell them I have a 13 month old daughter. my baby loves my tattoos. Her daddy is covered in them too!!!!

Just remember tattoos don't make you a bad mom, but not being a strong example for your kids when other people question your position can make you look that way.

Joanna - posted on 11/14/2009

I do, but I think it's because of the area I'm in. I'm in orange county, where it's hard to get looked at as different, lol. But I live in a nice gated community where 9 out of every 10 moms is a stepford wife, so when I'm out for walks, etc, I always get looks. Sometimes the moms in my mommy and me playgroup don't even try to get to know me, they have their cliques and I'm always cast aside.

Stef - posted on 11/14/2009

I am a dialysis nurse to a predominantly senior jewish community. Having over 30 tats and almost everything you could have pierced done, and fushia & black colored hair; of course I would get looks. But very quickly the patients learned that I do my job damn good. So every now and then you would hear from across the clinic, "go get the punk rock girl to stick my needles." it would mkae me warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Jessica - posted on 11/06/2009

My tattoos are easy to hide so I don't really ever have a problem unless I'm in a bathing suit, then my life size tarantula really stands out! I get some odd looks but mostly I get fascination at how real it looks, and those who are a bit arachnophobic tend to focus more on my sparrow in the roses tattoo. I love explaining each and telling them the meaning and story behind it and I generally get a good response after I've explained it, then the icky faces seem to fade at least a little bit. I personally find it hilarious when I get the weird looks! I've had to look away before to keep from laughing out loud at some faces!!! I want to get more tattoos but I want to keep it balanced and pretty (at least in my eyes) I want to get a life size snake wrapped around my thigh to go with my Tarantula crawling up my thigh (shadow and all, it looks like it's about to move). I also want to get a tiger walking out of the surf of an ocean sunset with my son's kanji symbol worked into the tiger's forehead stripes.



I just make sure every tattoo means something to me and I am passionate about each. The snake and tarantula are to celebrate the diversity in life and my love and passion for exotic and misunderstood animals, the sparrow in the (pink) roses are for my mother. Her mother loved pink roses and so of course they make her happy as they remind her of the special relationship they had. She loves sparrow because being a Christian she loves the song/verse "His eye is on the Sparrow, so I know He watches me." She loved it when I showed her and was tempted to get a twin tat of her own (she didn't have any then, but has since gotten make up tattoos). I placed it on my left shoulder blade so "she" is always watching my back, looking over my shoulder and close to my heart. Kai is my son's name and means ocean in Japanese, and I always think of him when I look at tigers, so that's where that tattoo comes into play. I also would want to get a UV tattoo on my face of feline features to represent the hidden side of me lurking just beneath, ready to pounce! I'm not sure UV is OK for the face, and especially near the eyes since I'd want a cat-eye effect. If anyone knows the answer to this I would appreciate any advice!



Another I'd like to get for my husband is a Wolf mirroring the sparrow's position on my right shoulder blade, with a chain collar on his neck and a key dangling from it, because my husband loves wolves and he guards my heart and looks after it always.



Those are all the ones I can think of at the moment, though I know I'll likely continue to get tattoos until I'm wrinkled and have to hold my skin to get new ones!

Desiree - posted on 10/20/2009

Quoting Sarra:

I had never experienced any prejudice regarding any of my 4 tattoo's nor any of my piercings until this morning, when I revealed my latest "tattoo edition" to my in-laws,,,,,,,,and was met with stunned silence, and looks of disapprovement from both of them!!!! My newest tattoo is on the back of my neck, stating my son's name, his date of birth and 4 little footprints. I love it.....but there following comment of "you're meant to be a mum now" upset me to the point of distraction......does having a tattoo make me a bad mum!?!?!? - NO! It made me so cross.

Ahh gotta love the inlaws! LMAO. Mine are the same way they even judge their own son when it comes to tattoos. They just dont understand what tattoos represent. Ive always thought the body is a canvas what we do to decorate is the part of the beauty.

Desiree - posted on 10/20/2009

Hi Casey! I too have faced single minded moms from my sons school. I am a part of the P.T.G and when ever we do "fun nights" I am always asked to cover them. I only have 3 visable ones a trail of stars going up my arm and one on my wrist and a tattoo on the back of my neck. This one mom said oh cute stars hun then cattily went over to another mom and wow how trashy. ( I overheard this because she didnt even bother to hide it LOL) Its sad that parobably half of the population has some kind of tattoo but there is still judgement. Funny though its usually only the woman that judge hahaha.

Angela - posted on 09/28/2009

All I've ever experienced is shock that I have tattoos, I don't look the "type" I am told. I have been asked the question "what if your boys want a tattoo" to which I always say that when they turn 18 if they still want it they may get it. but these same people felt that i wouldn't be able to tell my kids to practice safe sex because I was a teen Mom, so far my boys are listening.

They haven't experienced any backlash at all due to my tattoos, I know someone asked. As far as the teenage crowd goes, i'm semi-cool for having them. i have an 8 year old and oddly enough the kids at the school all like to see my tattoos when I volunteer at the school. The only place I've ever really felt snubbed is in my neighborhood, we live in an upper middle class neighborhood so I don't fit nto the wives' clique, no biggie in my book.

Mel - posted on 09/27/2009

i acutally had an old woman tap me on the shoulder while out shopping with my kids. she started abusing me and calling me a terrible mother and how could i walk around showing those awful pictures on my back and went as far to say that my "poor" children were going to grow up to be tattooed idiots like there mother. needless to say i felt like knocking this woman out but instead i went and grabbed security who were great and escorted the woman out of the shopping centre. the so called awful tattoo i have on my back is a pic of a mermaid holding a baby with my sons name and dob around it. alot of thought and care goes into each tattoo i choose and i have no regrets about them. it is a very personal decision to get a tattoo and it is not like we go up to people and abuse them for not having a tattoo so what right to people have to abuse us.

Amanda - posted on 09/17/2009

I would love to see your tattoo of your nacked preggie lady, it is such a powerful image! Most people who do not have tattoos do not understand the meaning and connection with marking our body and what it means to us.
If people ever make comment to me about mine I ask them to show me theirs, if they've not got any I say " Oh ....Sorry, I understand" and that usually shuts them up or leaves them stuned. he he he .Im planning my next one to show twenty years of partnership to my man and he's desiging it for me.

[deleted account]

Im so glad this post is on here because I am in the process of sketching up my next tattoo which will be huge....from my thigh to my neck. The ones I have now are covered most of the time unless I wear sandals which show one on my foot. I am concerned that my daughter may be treated differently at school if they see the tattoo. She goes to a conservative traditional school and Im kinda worried.I truly am not concerned what they think of me Im just concerned about my kids. What has anyone experienced regarding this?

Kelly - posted on 09/14/2009

I catch a lot of grief because I have a tattoo of a topless pregnant woman (me when I was pregnant with my daughter) on my arm. I get a lot of nasty looks and a lot of stupid comments all the time.

Tonette - posted on 09/12/2009

I haven't up until this last weekend... I was with my dad and my kids having a great Labor Day Weekend vacation and he and I began talking about tattoos. He told me that when he sees a woman with all these tattoos he thinks she is loose. Translation: He thinks I am loose. I told him that the stigma probably applied when he was younger, but I think that a tattooed woman is an independent woman; a proud woman; and a strong woman. I nicely told him that I didn't give a hoot what he or anyone else thinks. These tattoos are for me and no one else. I love them and that is all that matters.

Tracy - posted on 08/28/2009

I've been doing daycare for the last few years, I don't let people see my tat's when I start (I have 8) but after a few weeks or so, I slowly let them show. I find people have been accepting that my tat's don't affect how i am with children

Toni - posted on 08/27/2009

I have 2 tattoos and my parents have issues with them .... my mother one time told me that on women it just looks trashy LOL I told her that I guess my sister and myself was just trashy women then . I was 20 something the first time I got one and my dad hit the roof (which I knew he would) , I asked them what the diff was between myself and my brother having one and they told me .... he is a guy . As far as anyone else looking at me like I am some crazed idiot I have not had that . Be yourself and dont worry about what other ppl think ...... it's your body and it's your tattoo !!!!!

Paula - posted on 08/22/2009

I did about 10 years ago when I was doing an intership at a school for psychologically and behaviorally challenged teens...my social work supervisor told me that I was not making a good impression and that I was suggesting that tat's were ok to the teens because they could see the one on my ankle when I wore capri pants in the summer...basically the woman just had a big stick in her butt and I personally thought she didn't know how to relate to the teenages to begin with.....tat's are a personal preference and mine are tasteful and my choice if someone doesn't like them then don't look at them is my thoughts

Jessoliver87 - posted on 08/12/2009

I get dirty looks and snide comments left right and centre when I am out and my tattoos are visible (I have my feet done, inside of my left wrist and left shoulder blade). If its not my tattoos being looked at and complained about its people thinking I am too young to be a mum (I am almost 22 but am always assumed to be 16) and I dont have a ring on my finger (that one really gets the oldies worked up.) Yes I am a young mum, yes I am a single mum, yes I have tattoos....SO WHAT!! None of that affects my parenting abilities, I am a damn good mum to my son!

Julie - posted on 07/24/2009

As a person and a mum I love the fact people chiose to try look down on me due to my art.....I have a half sleeve a half leg back and others so my tats are almost always on show.....I belive it makes me a better person....when I fell the glares I make a point to say hello look these people in the eyes and wish them a beautiful day I must say I do this with pride as we all know the stigmatisation attached to tattooed people and I just love seeing people take a double step when being greeted in such a lovely manner by a Tattoed person...my husband is a Tattoist also we can never go anywhere with out looks....Smile we say and the world smiles back...

Elizabeth - posted on 07/22/2009

It's a bit hard to get over the first shocked look when someone realizes I'm tattooed because I look a bit straight laced other than that! It's like their opinions of me change as soon as they realize but it's all cool honestly! It's my "rebel" side and I believe they are beautiful and they are a way that I express who I am! Doesn't change how much I love my kids or the way I raise them at all but if someone wants to believe that then I don't need anyone that prejudicial in my life anyway!!!

Jill - posted on 07/10/2009

I get funny looks too! I am tattooed and my boyfriend has a huge blue mohawk. I feel people judging us everywhere we go. But I don't feel bad about their judging eyes, they are just ignorant. lol

Angela - posted on 07/02/2009

I was at the docs..having gastric bypass in a month..well they were saying things I would have to give up..straws,smoking etc...then they mentioned to quit tattooing. Like Hell! Then they retracted...they said "well we're taking away alot as is..we'll ignore the tattooing for now" They might as well say forever. One thing I am not giving up. Now my ex...he has 4 on mr winky...now there he definitly gets dirty looks from docs etc

Amber - posted on 07/01/2009

I had one woman say that she thinks women with tatts are sluts.

Kelly - posted on 06/25/2009

Not me personally but my husband is covered and he gets LOTS of looks when we are out and about with our little girl. They look at him like he is some kind of thug or skin head...which he isn't. We get asked often what we are going to do if our daughter wants to get tattoos like her parents and we answer, when she is 18 she can do whatever it is that she'd like to do. Tattoos are not evil, they are wearable art and a story of our lives.

Kimberly - posted on 06/11/2009

I so do, at my work from certain teachers, staff and from different parents and many other. I work at a school were my kids go. It kill's me most of the parents there have tons of tats full selves backs and so on. I get the look when mine show and when I did my hair which is jet black with burgundy chucks that was also an issue. I express myself threw my art and the way I dress and do my hair.

Casey - posted on 06/10/2009

All dear tattooed mums out there..... i guess we should not let others' opinions & 'looks' affect us too much.... as long as we know that we r great mums not matter what.... Cheers to all of ur... :-)

Danielle - posted on 06/07/2009

i have experienced judgement at a day care once.. it was like a mothers group.. go dknows if i can remember the name of it.. i left my son there to socialise witht he other children when i got a phone call i went outside to answer it and was told some bad news so i had to go back inside get my son and leave.. i was stopped at the gate as i have tattoos and piercings and was asked if i could be helped... i said i was here to collect my son the person then continued on to say.. wasn't i a bit young to have a son.. (mind you im 20 but i think that makes me an adult and responsible for my decision).. I got very angry went inside go t my son and left all the while telling her it was rude to treat people in such a way... even before having my son i have been judged for my tattoos.. its ridiculous people should understand that just because our bodies are marked with ink doesn't mean that we as people are marked with bad decisions, drugs, jail or any other affiliations.... I love the fact there are more of us Tattoed mums !..... Free Ink!

Sarra - posted on 06/06/2009

I had never experienced any prejudice regarding any of my 4 tattoo's nor any of my piercings until this morning, when I revealed my latest "tattoo edition" to my in-laws,,,,,,,,and was met with stunned silence, and looks of disapprovement from both of them!!!! My newest tattoo is on the back of my neck, stating my son's name, his date of birth and 4 little footprints. I love it.....but there following comment of "you're meant to be a mum now" upset me to the point of distraction......does having a tattoo make me a bad mum!?!?!? - NO! It made me so cross.

Kim - posted on 06/03/2009

I have had my tattoos and had my piercings for 25 years. I am 40 now and I have learned that people are going to judge me on the way I look. But, the only people that matter are my children and they love them. 3 of my 4 children are tattooed and Cameron is a tattoo artist. The only one not tattooed is my 17 year old and that is only because they changed some of the rules. However, my son Cameron is going to tattoo his brother. Just remember you are not here to make anyone else happy. If they don't like it they can stop looking.

Rebecca - posted on 06/03/2009

I have 11 tattoos(ranging from my hand to my neck among all the others) so far and a fer piercings. When ever I have to go to my daughters for any reason I get dirty looks like I am a bad parent. My daughter doesnt get invited to many friends houses because their mothers dont like the fact that I have so much ink and it imposible to cover all of it. When ever my daughter sees someone giving me looks she turns and says if you dont like them you shouldnt look and I guess you wouldnt like my daddy then either he has three on his head alone ( two flaming skulls on each side and a heart with devil wings, tail, angel wings and a halo on the back of his head). Its rather funny to see peoples jaws drop at that comment. We usually laugh and walk away. I take care of my kids they stay out of trouble and are well behaved and to all the mothers that cant see that are not worth my time in trying to get them to understand that every one is individual and not like them.

[deleted account]

I for sure get looked at funny. I'm 24 with tat's and stretched ears as well as a facial piercing so people tend to look at me funny, more so when I'm with my husband who has a full sleeve. I'm so use to it now I don't even care. I know that I'm a great mom and I also know that there are people out there that are the worse parents on the planet and then have no tattoos or piercings. So really what difference does it make if I have one or not it doesn't mean I'm a bad mother if anything it means I'm raising a child that will have more insight about the world and not so narrow minded to people being different.

Ashley - posted on 05/28/2009

I have had a few people treat me a little different over the past few years, but once they realize that I do not let my daughter run wild, they tend to loosen up a bit, People also think I am younger than I am so they look at me wierd for even being a mom, little do they know...I am almost 30

Andrea - posted on 05/23/2009

I sometimes do when i am out the my SD and her dad but he has one to so he cant say much that i have them it was worse when i had my belly button priced which i am going to get re-done

[deleted account]

Yeah I can tell by the way people treat me that if I looked different or "normal" or whatever they would treat me differently.
Also I used to have my nose pierced on both sides, my tongue, my lip and I have 5 rings in one ear and 6 in the other and that would make people look at me weird or treat me different also. People ask "What are you going to do if your daughter wants a tattoo?" and I say, "Well when she's 18 and she has thought about it for a long time and it's something that she's sure about (and hopefully she's discussed with me & her dad so we can give input), then it'll be her decision".

Like I'd just go take her to a tattoo shop when she's a minor or something, come on... lol she doesn't even have her ears pierced yet and she'll be 8 in a few months.

Charlie - posted on 05/20/2009

No i havent directly but sometimes i get " looks "