Walters 1

Ashton Walters
Mrs. DeBock
English 4
02/20/2015
Essential Question: What makes people with tattoos discriminated against in the work place?
Working Thesis: People with tattoos are discriminated against in the work place whether they are
over qualified or not for a position.
Refined Thesis: People with tattoos are discriminated against in the work place due to
stereotypes stating that it gives a bad image to the company, the tattoos making the hiring
process difficult; also discriminating against those with tattoos can lead to court cases.
Annotated Bibliography
DERAGON, BETH A. Tattoos at Work: Can a Company Ban Them?. New Hampshire
Business Review 36.6 (2014): 24. Small Business Reference Center Web. 9 Feb. 2015
In this article it talks about how many individuals can be discriminated against in the
work place. The article states how during the hiring process if tattoos are visible employers are
likely to judge one and makes one less likely to be hired. The writer talks about how the
employer should not disqualify someone for a position due to the tattoos because of the laws
against discrimination. Many businesses offer an option to the employee to cover the tattoos with
a long sleeve shirt of something else but they should not ban them for any reason. This article

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talks about how a company can miss out on some of the best employees they have come across
because they do not agree on having tattoos.
Elzweig. Brian. and Donna K. Peeples.Tattoos and Piercings: Issues Of Body Modification And
The Workplace. SAM Advanced Management Journal (07497075) 76.1 (2011): 13-23.
Business Source Premier. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
The article states how tattoos are now becoming more mainstream and more common. In
the article it says, Americans aged 18 to 50 found that the overall rate of tattooing was 24%
(Elzweig 13). Showing how much more common it is for one to run into considering hiring
someone with a tattoo. The author talks about how not hiring one with tattoos or asking one to
cover up their tattoos can lead to legal issues. Most of the time when one feels discriminated
against because of their tattoos they will take the issue to court for discrimination. In many of
these court cases the ones with tattoos state that their tattoos have to do with their religion and
should not have to be covered up. The author talks about how this can lead to violation of Title
VII in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII says that it is unlawful for one to be discriminated
against because of individuals religion, and says that mutable characteristics (tattoos) cannot be
discriminated against. If one wants to take the case to court they must be able to prove that their
religion is valid and they have true beliefs in it otherwise it will not be seen as discrimination.
The article shows many statistics about those who are tattooed and has many examples of these
issues being brought to court, telling why they had won or lost the case.
Johnstone. Andrea K.. and Laurel Van Buskirk. Tattoo, Body Piercing Rules Can Lead To
Discrimination Claims. New Hampshire Business Review 26.22 (2004): 29A-30A. Small
Business Reference Center. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

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Many people have started running into the problem of having to hire one with tattoos.
Many businesses would like to maintain a professional appearance and fear they cannot do that
hiring people with tattoos. Tattoos are considered to be an unwanted style in the work place and
many do not want their consumers to have issues with these tattoos. Various employers believe
that they should have the choice to request an employee to cover up their body art. Employers
should not discriminate between male and females with tattoos, this can lead to court cases also.
One should be able to maintain a professional appearance with or without their tattoos.