Teens and Tattoos. A Response to Sean Barry

Sean Barry, a student, has responded to Andres Martin by first summarizing what Martin had written in his article to other psychiatrists, and then going into his own ideas on why teenagers get tattoos. Barry believes that there is alot of overgeneralizing when Martin rights about teens getting tattoos. The overgeneralization is in Martin's effort to make other pysciatrists believe that tattoos are a positive thing and a way to understand teen's actions who come from a bad background. Barry believes that Martin is also romanticizing tattooing by comparing the reasons of teens tattooing themselves to Ishmael in the story of Moby Dick, a fictional story. Barry also believes that the majorly influenced by celebrities and the media. Movie stars, athletes, and t.v. stars all present that its okay to and good to get tattoos and it will make you better looking, more athletic,and successful. Martin also doesn't expand on his thoughts about teens wanting to be individuals and wanting to join a group. However, with the disagreements between Barry and Martin, combined they both do a good job of understanding the main reasons that teens tattoo themselves.

One of the best feelings is the feeling of acceptance. I believe that the main reason that teens get tattoos, in this day and age, is to fit in. Teens, more now than ever, are self-aware and self-conscious of themselves. The media tells teens of all ages that they should act or look a certain way, and teens believe it causing them to act or look that certain way. Tattoos are one way for teens to conform to the media and feel like they are accepted socially. When a teen is lonely and yearning for attention, they will go to drastic measures to be noticed. Aside from acceptance, special meaning is probably the next biggest reason of teen tattooing.

When my brother swore into the United States Army it marked a turning point in his life. Before he was in the Army he was heavily into drugs and was quickly destroying his life. When he hit rock bottom he decided to join the Army. Once he was sworn in, his drug addiction was forced to be ended. He recently tattooed "Speak So Softly" on his chest, because they are the lyrics to a song he used to love so much when he was out of control. He tattooed this on his chest so that he would always remember how he used to be and how far he had come. Having said this tattoos are not just a sign of rebellion or distain toward higher authority, but often symbolize something with a much greater meaning.

In conclusion, tattoos will be permanently inked onto teens and people of all ages until the end of time. Whether or not the reason that a someone got their tattoo to be accepted, memorialize an event or situation, or to make a statement, the reasons are endless. The choice of getting a tattoo is up to the person, who is permanently changing their appearance, to make the decision of why they are getting it and is not up to anyone else. The only thing we can do is try to accept and come to an understanding of why someone might get a tattoo.

Jordan Engel