Are tattoos associated with employment and wage discrimination? Analyzing the relationships between body art and labor market outcomes

Abstract

Do job applicants and employees with tattoos suffer a penalty in the labor market because of their body art? Previous research has found that tattooed people are widely perceived by hiring managers to be less employable than people without tattoos. This is especially the case for those who have visible tattoos (particularly offensive ones) that are difficult to conceal. Given this backdrop, our research surprisingly found no empirical evidence of employment, wage or earnings discrimination against people with various types of tattoos. In our sample, and considering a variety of alternative estimation techniques, not only are the wages and annual earnings of tattooed employees in the United States statistically indistinguishable from the wages and annual earnings of employees without tattoos, but tattooed individuals are also just as likely, and in some instances even more likely, to gain employment. These results suggest that, contrary to popular opinion as well as research findings with hiring managers and customers, having a tattoo does not appear to be associated with disadvantage or discrimination in the labor market.

Tattoos, Lifestyle, and the Labor Market

“…The information on tattoo status in their study was limited to a dummy variable. French et al () collected more detailed information on tattoo prevalence and characteristics, labor market outcomes, and relevant other personal characteristics. They again found no evidence that tattoos are significantly associated with employment or earnings discrimination.…”

Women and Tattoos: Fashion, Meaning, and Implications for Health

“…No legal recourse exists for workplace discrimination against individuals with tattoos, yet such discrimination does occur . Discrimination can take the form of not hiring individuals with tattoos or requiring them to cover their tattoos in the workplace . More subtle discrimination can occur through negative social reactions to the tattoos.…”

“…This gender bias may not persist in live interactions with caring, compassionate women professionals with tattoos. Such perceptions and biases are in flux, and more recent findings suggest that more employers and the public hold positive perceptions of workers with tattoos . With so many young adults acquiring tattoos, it is time to encourage work and educational settings to adopt consistent policies and compassionate acceptance of body art.…”

“…17 Discrimination can take the form of not hiring individuals with tattoos or requiring them to cover their tattoos in the workplace. 42 More subtle discrimination can occur through negative social reactions to the tattoos. Tattoos acquired for religious purposes or those that have meaning to a protected class of individuals may be covered under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, but this situation is uncommon.…”

Are tattoos associated with negative health‐related outcomes and risky behaviors?

“…25 For example, after controlling for numerous demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, having a tattoo is not associated with lower employment probability or labor market earnings. [27][28][29] Although statistically significant differences in aggression and rebelliousness exist, these effects are quite small and have diminished over time and will likely continue to do so. 30 Similarly, although tattooed individuals are more willing to take risks and are more impulsive than their non-tattooed peers, the differences are negligible.…”