If you have a tattoo..., I need your help! Options

[lojay]

For Sociology I have to write a paper about tattoos and I need interviews with people who have a tattoo to use as my sources. If you have a tattoo and could fill out this questionnaire it would be so helpful.

In theory, I would need to have it filled out by Monday Dec. 3rd... But in reality I don't need them until Tuesday Dec. 11th, but it would be nice to be able to write my paper ASAP. Please be as in-depth as you can!



Here are the questions (I'm sorry there are a lot!!):

Age:
Sex:
Occupation:

Functionalist Perspective Questions:
1. What are the functions and the benefits of having a tattoo? (for example, are you ever praised for your tattoo?)
2. Were you nervous about getting the tattoo? Why or why not?
3. Did you take cleanliness of the tattoo parlor into consideration? Why or Why not?
4. Did you consider what qualifications the tattoo artist had? Why or why not?
5. Are there any long term effects to consider before getting a tattoo?
6. Do you believe there is an addictive quality to tattooing? Why or why not?

Conflict Perspective Questions:
7. How old were you when you were tattooed? At what age is it appropriate to be tattooed?
8. How much did it cost? Who paid for it? What are the cost restraints in the tattoo realm? (For example, would someone use their money towards a tattoo instead of on food for their child, etc).
9. Are you completely satisfied with your tattoo? Have you considered removing or altering your tattoo?
10. Have you become stereotyped or a victim of discrimination after acquiring your tattoo? Does the design and/or location play a part in this?
11. What reactions and concerns did you parents and friends express?
12. Does your tattoo impact your work environment?

Symbolic Interactionist Questions:
For questions 13-17 if you have more than one tattoo answer for each tattoo.
13. Who chose the design? Who made the design? (Please provide a picture of the tattoo if possible, if not possible, explain the tattoo).
14. Everyone experiences pain differently. How much did it hurt?
15. Where is the tattoo located? How did you decide on the location for the tattoo?
16. What does the choice and location of your tattoo say about you as a person? Could the meaning be interpreted differently by others? Is the tattoo for you or for others?
17. Has the meaning of your tattoo changed over time? Do you think the meaning will be as significant as you grow older?


ALSO!!! If you are a tattoo artist and willing to fill out a questionnaire that would be SO HELPFUL. However, I have a different set of questions that I would be asking you, so if you could PM me that would be fantastic.

Thank you so so much in advance to anyone who actually fills this out. You have no idea how much it would mean to me. I know it is a lot of questions but it would really help me out with my paper to have a lot of different people’s answers.

[MissFits]

Age: 18
Sex: Female
Occupation: Pharmacy Technician

Functionalist Perspective Questions:
1. What are the functions and the benefits of having a tattoo? (for example, are you ever praised for your tattoo?)
It helps me express myself. I've been praised for my tattoos, yes.

2. Were you nervous about getting the tattoo? Why or why not?
For my first tattoo I was nervous, but after that not at all.

3. Did you take cleanliness of the tattoo parlor into consideration? Why or Why not?
Yes. I didn't want to get any diseases or infections that would cause me harm or cause my tattoo to look different

4. Did you consider what qualifications the tattoo artist had? Why or why not?
Yeah. I wanted to know that he could tattoo me without f**king up and make me feel comfortable at the same time.

5. Are there any long term effects to consider before getting a tattoo?
Yes. It's there for the rest of your life so it could affect future jobs and how people see you.

6. Do you believe there is an addictive quality to tattooing? Why or why not?
OH GOD, YES! After my first tattoo I had to have more. I get the urge to get a new tattoo at least once a month.

Conflict Perspective Questions:
7. How old were you when you were tattooed? At what age is it appropriate to be tattooed?
I got my first tattoo when I was 15 or 16. I would advise that you wait until you are 18.

8. How much did it cost? Who paid for it? What are the cost restraints in the tattoo realm? (For example, would someone use their money towards a tattoo instead of on food for their child, etc).
The most I've ever paid was around 60 (this isn't really accurate for most tattoos because my tattoo artist is a close friend). I always pay for my own tattoos. I don't personally know anyone that gets tattoos rather than feeding their children, but I would say that it's not a good idea.

9. Are you completely satisfied with your tattoo? Have you considered removing or altering your tattoo?
I am happy with my tattoos for the most part. I plan on covering up the one on my back with a new design and I really want to get the F Holes on my tummy bigger.

10. Have you become stereotyped or a victim of discrimination after acquiring your tattoo? Does the design and/or location play a part in this?
Yes. I don't think the design or placement had anything to do with it, because my tattoos aren't offensive or placed awkwardly. I really think it was just the fact I am a young lady with several tattoos.

11. What reactions and concerns did you parents and friends express?
My friends LOVE my tattoos. My mom wasn't too keen of them at first but as I expressed more and more interest so did she (now we are going to get matching tattoos )

12. Does your tattoo impact your work environment?
I have been turned down jobs because of my tattoos, yes.

Symbolic Interactionist Questions:
For questions 13-17 if you have more than one tattoo answer for each tattoo.
13. Who chose the design? Who made the design? (Please provide a picture of the tattoo if possible, if not possible, explain the tattoo).
Clover - It was my first tattoo and it was kind of a group decision between my friends and I, since they were supposed to get the same one. It's a basic four leaf clover, so I guess nature made the design.
Swallows - I chose the design, and I am not sure who made it but my tattoo artist edited them a little bit.
F holes - My fiance gave me the idea and helped me choose the f hole shapes we used. My tattoo artist drew them up from memory, I think.
Flower - I saw a flower in a tattoo magazine that I really liked, so my tattoo artist sketched something similar up.
Pin up girl - I chose this design on a whim. Joe pekar drew it, and it is AMAZING.
Robot - My friend drew up the design and I chose it.
Heart - My fiance and I tattooed a single heart on each other. So, we both chose it and he drew mine.

14. Everyone experiences pain differently. How much did it hurt?
Clover - Not too terribly much.
Swallows - By far the most painful tattoos I have. Most people with foot tattoos agree that they are nearly unbearable.
F holes - They hurt, but it wasn't that bad.
Flower - The pain was almost non-existent
Pin up girl - Not at all, it was really awesome.
Robot - It hurt.
Heart - It's so tiny I barely felt it.

15. Where is the tattoo located? How did you decide on the location for the tattoo?
Clover - It is just above my ankle. It was my first tattoo and I thought that would be a good place to put a tattoo because it was easy to hide.(that no longer matters to me in placement)
Swallows - My feet. I always thought foot tattoos were so classy and cute, it seems like these swallows were made to fit my feet.
F holes - My tummy. I put them there because old fashioned f hole guitars are shaped a lot like women. I think it's sexy.
Flower - My arm. I have no clue why I put it there, honestly. It was a spur of the moment decision but I still love it more than a year later.
Pin up girl - Most of my upper right leg. The picture flows with my body really well right there.
Robot - My upper back. I thought it'd be cute.
Heart - My inner left calf. It was just kind of a random placement.

16. What does the choice and location of your tattoo say about you as a person? Could the meaning be interpreted differently by others? Is the tattoo for you or for others?
I honestly could not tell you what the placement of my tattoos says about me. In my experience most people that are covered with tattoos don't really have a meaning behind all of them or their placement other than "I like it and I wanted it there". I feel the same way. If the meaning is interpreted differently by others no one has ever said anything about it. My tattoos are for me, I love the culture and the feeling I get when I get them. Every day I still love my tattoos.

17. Has the meaning of your tattoo changed over time? Do you think the meaning will be as significant as you grow older?
I think my first tattoo was about rebellion, and that has changed over time. I think as I get older and I get the more sentimental tattoos they will mean more to me. I also think that they will show where I was in life and remind me of my youth, which I hope helps to keep me from getting too terribly serious.

I hope that helped you, and I might edit this with pictures of my tattoos when I feel more like taking pictures.