Why do professional people such as doctors, lawyers etc never seem to have tattoos?

Question

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

It's exceedingly rare for anyone in a "professional" occupation to have visible tattoos when wearing normal business attire. Some will have tattoos that are normally hidden, but you aren't going to see hand, neck, face, wrist tattoos. That's simply because those tattoos would directly and negatively affect their income and likely their prospects of being promoted, made partner, etc.

If you had a major disease, or needed a serious operation, and you had a choice between a tatted-up doctor or one without, almost everyone would choose the one without. That goes triple for lawyers - courts tend to be fairly conservative about things like appearance, and tattoos will almost always make you less sympathetic and, for a lawyer, make you seem less professional.

There's a saying that a neck, face, or hand tattoo is like an insurance policy that will assure you a construction job as a roofer - a roofer generally being the most difficult and most dangerous work, and one that most people doing it are doing it because no one else will hire them at a livable wage. They can be roofers because they don't need to get close to the customers/home owners, and few customers are going to get up on their roofs to chat with them.

Make no mistake: visible tattoos are career-limiting or career-excluding for a whole lot of "professional" careers. You might be able to work at a Starbucks or a JiffyLube, but you aren't likely to be hired as a college professor, or an engineer, or an architect, or a salesman (unless it's for Harley Davidsons or something). Such tattoos are way too strongly tied to violent criminals (prisoners are way more likely than the general population to have visible tattoos), so think long and hard before you do that to yourself.

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

There’s still kind of a weird holdover stigma from generations past about tattoos and how they affect one’s “professional” appearance. It used to be that tattoos were associated with, say, “rough-around-the-edges” types: prisoners, sailors, motorcycle gangs, “street toughs” lmao…. folks who, in a previously more rigid world, would cause (probably unwarranted) uneasiness in a straight-laced customer who could visibly identify and categorize an employee by their visible tattoos. So I’d think someone in a very academically intensive field of study would, from an early age, be very focused on their desired future career and would probably be aware of the tattoo stigma and avoid them at a young adult age, which I’m sure is when most people get their first tattoo.

But now it seems like more people have them than don’t. I feel like I’m in the minority as someone without any tattoos. I dated a girl in, I think it was 2004, so almost two decades ago, and she had two tattoos at the time, one on the back of her shoulder, and one on her lower back. And she went on to become a lawyer. I knew quite a few other people in the pre-med, pre-law, and engineering programs who had tats back then, so I know they’re out there. I think the new thing is hiding them in places they won’t be seen when wearing professional clothing.

Aerissa_Jade · Accepted Answer

There is a lot of customers (or potential) that won't deal with someone who has them all over, so they likely have some but are hiding them or they find it may be difficult to have customers coming to them if they have too many.

There are always exceptions though, but if you rely on customers, things you do that can cause you to lose or not get them can be hard on getting business and they know this.

whereismyjohnny · Accepted Answer

I'm studying law, and a bunch of us have tattoos. Some on hidden places, but there are also some subtle ones. I know a guy who has a whole sleeve.

I know some people think some careers (lawyers, doctors, etc) shouldn't have tattoos or are not allowed to, but times are changing. Lots of employers stopped caring about tattoos and don't judge someone's skills by it.

ShaTTeredMasterpeace · Answer

It's 2022, please get over this stupid idea that tattoos=bad. How do you know what those people have when they're almost always covered up?

OfDeath · Answer

They would these days. They usually just fully dressed in their scrubs or lab coats etc.

Tattoos were originally the sort if thing those even on the lower spectrum of the proletariat would get. People who could've been considered somewhat as social outcasts. Carnival gypsies, prisoners, outlaws or privateers would be the ones with tattoos. Whereas lawyers and doctors were usually more part of the aristocracy.

That has gradually changed but there is still a little bit of cultural segregation left.

Daniela1982 · Answer

Because they are usually of higher intelligence than tattooed people are.  I WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR BUT THEN i REALIZED I WAS JUST A DICK.

WhatTheHeckkkk · Answer

Some do, but they are in areas that are not visible.

Doctors and lawyers and those types of workers are seen as professionals… They need to uphold the “professional” look, and that means they need to look like a very “traditional” person, I guess?

HawkPerception · Answer

They're smart enough to get them in more discreet areas if they do. The stereotype about tattos is dying, but it will always be around just like racism.

I don't know about you, but I'd be more at ease in the hands of a non-tatted doctor than one that has a skull on his neck or something. How you present yourself will always matter. That's why they say dressing reflects your personality.

alc24 · Answer

They aren’t allowed to. It makes them seem unprofessional to the public’s eye so they are required to cover any tattoos up if they have them.

Same thing applies for colored hair and certain piercings. Some companies may allow them but a majority of the time it is a big no for those with professional jobs.

dustybiker · Answer

🤣 You haven’t seen them undressed, evidently. Go to a beach in NY, Ca, Florida, Texas.. lakes, pools, etc. everywhere else.

purplepoppy · Answer

Because you don't go through years of train only to make yourself unemployable by looking like a criminal.

dorksided1 · Answer

The police in my area some have very visible sleeves and I live rural. A surgeon I know in NYC has a back piece done, maybe they do but not always visible much like some piercings

Anonymous · Answer

maybe just never show them? although many doctors/ lawyers tend to be from upper class families and not necessary the type to have tattoo's

its possible some just don't have visible tattoo's , i'm pretty sure my dental hygenist has one but i've never seen it. i saw her profile following a local tattoo place on instagram and not sure why she'd be following if she doesn't have one or interested. i don't have the nerve to ask about it though and have no idea where it be located

Cherry234 · Answer

If they're going to get tattoos they're going to get them in hidden places. They wouldn't get them in visible places because they don't want to make the impression that they're unprofessional.

Twalli · Answer

They typically don't have visible ones, but they might still have them. My mom has one on her hip. She was a doctor until she retired a few years ago. She got that tattoo before starting med school. My uncle was a professional like her and has one on his back, on a shoulderblade. Likewise he got it before beginning his professional career. So it's not that they don't have tattoos, just that they're not usually visible.

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Answer

Who told you they don’t?  I am a law graduate and even though I have no tattoos, I have couple of lawyer friends woth their own law forms and they’ve got tattoos in hidden places.

Slingblade1126 · Answer

I'm an attorney and know some that a few, nothing too drastic. I don't have any because I think I kinda missed that generation. To young for the older generation before me and to old for the generation that came after me. If that makes sense.

DonkeyDan · Answer

Some do, but they are far nore descreet about where they are, people in high profile professional positions have to cobsider their image to be taken seriously.

OneNineZero · Answer

Who told you that? I own a law firm and one of my younger lawyers have tattoos on both of her arms She has to cover it will full sleeves inside court

Subarugirl · Answer

Because as professionals they want to present themselves in certain way that will make their patient and clients comfortable as well as other professionals take them seriously. Many of them do, they just keep them covered.

blissinanarchy1 · Answer

I had a lawyer. She had plenty of tattoos. On her thighs, her lower back, upper arms. She was highly skilled. Used to be a sex crime prosecutor. She just had them in places that can be hidden.

gabby100 · Answer

They are not wanting to ruin a perfectly looking body with graffiti..

Dinklex3 · Answer

They're "professional " so they just aren't visible.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

I’ve seen nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers, and doctors with tattoos. All very respected professions. So take your anti tattoo bullshit somewhere else.

Squaresquirrel · Answer

They need to cover up. Have you seen a lawyer in a tank top?

Selena1987 · Answer

I’m a civil engineer and I don’t have any tattoo and I don’t like it But it’s my characteristic I mean if I weren’t an engineer, I wouldn’t have any tattoo too

genericname85 · Answer

because if you're a doctor or a lawyer, you can't be an idiot. idiots have tattoos xD that's just my opinion, not a scientific observation.

ChrisMaster69 · Answer

Lol yeah do. Not all join from school, Uni etc, a lot work in other jobs first.

Lionman95 · Answer

They are not allowed to show that so they could have tatoos you´ll never get to see.

JoyGirl · Answer

Some do, but it is in a place where no one can see it.

Anpu23 · Answer

I know lots of professional people with tattoos. Then again I run in those circles.

libsaretards · Answer

Because those fields frown on people who look less than professional.

exitseven · Answer

I think people would be a little put off if their doctor or lawyer had some full sleeve tattoos.

Passion_Devil · Answer

I've seen a lawyer full of tattoos! A doctor not yet

Massageman · Answer

They need most of their money to pay back their student loans, maybe.

NorthwestRider · Answer

Many do. My wife has a white collar career and she is covered by tattoos

Shamalien · Answer

Tattoos are for the lower echelons of society. Superficial pleasure pain seekers

Waldoe · Answer

the ones that do cover them with long sleeve shirts...

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Tattoos are for trashy and street people, not sophisticated individuals.

888theGreat · Answer

Image and professionals , don;t live in a Trailer either.

driven159 · Answer

you answered your own question professional people key words

lightnite · Answer

In office work, I disapprove of them also, I don't have any tatts. I am not a fan.

In_Trance · Answer

Because they new self-expression doesn't pay the bills.

Anonymous · Answer

I did see one doctor in a hospital with tattoos on his arms but it’s pretty rare

Xhuy_006 · Answer

Have ya seen Doctor Adventures?

sheikalana · Answer

They’d rather spend their money on something else.

jshm2 · Answer

Because they are not fucking idiots

MannMitAntworten · Answer

They do. I have seen them.

AndrésC64 · Answer

They do, just not in plain sight.

Blackcupcake · Answer

they do… lol

Anonymous · Answer

Because only morons get tattoos.

Anonymous · Answer

Have you ever seen my uncle though.. Lol

Iron_Man · Answer

I know you are right

OddBeMe · Answer

Or criminal records.

UpdateGloomyNights_ · Answer

Are you sure?

flirtatiousgirl · Answer

No they do it

Why do professional people such as doctors, lawyers etc never seem to have tattoos?

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Why do people get tattoos when so many others already have them, making them less unique?

Why do professional people such as doctors, lawyers etc never seem to have tattoos?

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Why do people get tattoos when so many others already have them, making them less unique?

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