In recent years, more and more teenagers (aged 16 to 21) are taking the risk and getting tattooed. Seems that getting inked no longer comes with the stigma of having a questionable character.
Back in the days, tattoos were synonymous with the underground world of alcohol, drugs and sex. However, nowadays having one is not uncommon and is no longer frowned upon by society.
“Many treat it more of a fashion statement more than anything else and hope that it attracts attention” says Sonia Tan, a 17 year old student.
She is one of the exceptions to the norm and sees tattoos as “a form of disfigurement.” Needless to say she is not considering one at all.
Out of five teenagers randomly surveyed, four of them religiously follow the series, Miami Ink. Three of them even account it for sparking off their interests in tattoos while the other one claims that his friends influenced him.
A teenager who declined to be named defends herself, saying: “I got my tattoo done not just because it attracts attention and is the in thing nowadays. This is just a way of expressing myself, I don’t care what they think of me.” She has a dragon on her back and is the size of an A5 piece of paper. (Half A4)
Naturally, people of the older generation are concerned over this change in behavior. When asked about her views on the trend, Julia Leong, a 49 year-old mother of three expresses her concern: “I am shocked at how teenagers these days can draw on themselves like that! Times have really changed.”
According to the Ministry of Health, tattooing procedures carry the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, like HIV, hepatitis B and C. However, if sterilized or disposable needles are used and proper infection control measures are followed, the risk of infection is very small.
There is currently no legal age limit to getting a tattoo, although some shops will not accept clients under the age of 18. Others, however, require minors to be accompanied by their parents.
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