| dc.description.abstract | Tattooing is a growing and diversifying practice in the United States (Roberts, 2012), yet
mainstream society maintains negative stigmas (Bell, 1999). Nevertheless, individuals attach
personal meaning to tattooing (Atkinson, 2002; Kosut, 2000). There is little literature on the
tattooed individual’s experience of social stigmatization and its impact on identity construction.
This study employed a phenomenological approach to address this gap in the literature. The
researcher used a semi-structured protocol to interview seven tattooed individuals (five men, two
women; age range 25 - 38 years). Data analysis extracted three main themes: “identity project,”
“cultural context,” and “tattoo timeline.” Findings suggest stigmas associated with tattoos remain
embedded in the cultural context, most significantly within career. This finding has implications
for career counseling. However, participants intentionally defined themselves outside negative
stereotypes, and described a sense of community within the tattoo subculture. | en_US |
