Most students say that self-expression and personal meaning are the main reasons they got their tattoos. Sophie, a freshman at the University of Montana, said that she got her ink, an apple and a quote from Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, just because it was something that she had always wanted. “The apple was kind of rebelling against my parents and asserting my identity, and the second was in reaction to another choice I made that I didn't want to forget,” she said. However, these choices weren’t made without forethought. “I waited almost a year for my first tattoo…I did a lot of research.”
UM students agree that tattooing is on the rise but that it is also becoming more acceptable. “If you look at almost every industry there are people with visible piercings and tattoos,” another UM student, said. Others agree that older generations, such as those who are now employing tattooed college students, are becoming more accepting. “Body art has grown to be more than a fad among college students
However, tattoo placement is just one of the many things people considered before getting a tattoo.“It's technically discrimination [to not hire based on body art], but that’s the world we live in,Many students also say that as long as a tattoo has meaning and isn’t offensive, that it shouldn’t affect their chances of getting hired. “Tattoos are permanent and everyone makes choices that shouldn't necessarily dictate the rest of his or her life,” Sophie said.