How the #TattooedProfessional trend on LinkedIn signals a new era of ‘Workplace Professionalism’
A few years back, I was on a date with a guy discussing workplace conflict. At the time, I also had pink hair — on top of the multiple tattoos and septum ring — so I was extra “alternative.” And that’s the word he used to describe me…. “alternative.” It almost sounded like a dirty word.
I was bumping heads with my supervisor and was venting to this guy about my situation. I struggled to wrap my head around why my supervisor didn’t like me. I have always put my whole heart and soul into my work — and I’ve been at it for 14 years! My supervisors ALWAYS like me!
“They probably don’t take you seriously because you look so alternative.”
That sentence stuck to my mind like glue. I always thought the quality of my work would be what truly mattered — because everyone has tattoos now, right? In that moment, I knew my date was right — even though I didn’t want to admit it to myself.
Fast forward to now —
Thanks to Izaba Paras, the hashtag ‘Tattooed Professional’ is all over LinkedIn with people posting their beautiful headshots and pictures showcasing their tattoos. She was able to start a conversation about what should be considered ‘workplace professionalism.’ This conversation isn’t new… it has actually been discussed in many academic circles over the years.
What does research say about tattoos in the workplace?
When planning this blog post, I knew I had to see what psychology had to say about this topic. I found a few articles published in academic journals, the most recent being an article published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior written by Enrica Ruggs and Mikki Hebl just this year. In this study, the researchers summarized existing research on the topic and further expanded on it by comparing how positive and negative perceptions affected customer satisfaction. Ruggs and Hebl wanted to know -
Do employees’ tattoos leave a mark on customers’ reactions to products and organizations in 2022?
In past studies, people often perceived tattooed employees to be deviant, risky, and incompetent. Tattooed employees were also perceived as artistic, creative, and imaginative, though. Ruggs and Hebl learned that while those negative perceptions still exist, the ‘good’ perceptions were often stronger in certain situations. If the goods and services provided were not directly associated with those negative stereotypes, the positive stereotypes significantly outweighed the bad.
The stigma of tattoos is shifting…
As tattoos become more normalized and widely accepted, the negative stereotypes will fade. The only way to normalize body art is by continuing to have these conversations, which is why I was so happy to see everyone’s pictures and stories on LinkedIn.
They reminded me that my tattoos aren’t a reflection of my work ethic or my skill level. They’re simply a part of who I am — — and that’s non-negotiable.
