Teenagers getting tattoos is something that is sometimes frowned upon, as some believe that a teen is not mature enough to get something so permanent on their body. However, I think that teens know themselves well enough to make that decision. We know what is important to us.
That being said, there are already many large decisions that teens make, many that could be considered far more life-changing than a tattoo. College, for example. At the ages of 17, 18, or younger, we decide if we want to go to college, what to major in, what field we want to work in, and many other choices that are likely to impact us for the rest of our lives. And, while these things may be changed, it could still turn into a college degree that isn’t used, or wasted years. I say, if we can make those big decisions, we can make other big decisions.
Some students in this school have tattoos that they got anywhere from 15 to 18 years old. In the state of Illinois, it is illegal to tattoo minors, even with parental consent, but in Indiana, any minor can be tattooed with parental consent, with no age minimum at all. Multiple people have tattoos relating to pets or relatives, such as Maggie Proulx, with one to honor her grandmother, or Tommy Renzas, who has his dog’s pawprint. Neither of those seem like regrettable decisions to me.
While it is true that some people regret getting tattoos later in life, that group is hardly restricted to people who got tattoos as teenagers.
While some may point to growing rates of tattoo removal, I point to the larger number of people getting tattoos. With more people getting tattoos, thanks to better societal acceptance, more people will inevitably want them removed. And, while the age one was when they got tattooed is quite an indicator of removal in the future, another major indicator is location. According to practicaldermatology.com, forearms and hands were the most popular locations for removal.
So, don’t say teens shouldn’t get tattoos, or aren’t mature enough to get them. We can and we are.
