Stigma hurts: exploring employer and employee perceptions of tattoos and body piercings in Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeThis study draws on social stigma and prejudice to examine the perceptions and beliefs of managers and employees regarding visible tattoos and body piercings, as well as the impact they have on potential employment and human resource management in the global South, using Nigeria as the research context.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative research approach, drawing on data from 43 semi-structured interviews with employees and managers in Nigeria.FindingsContrary to the popular opinion that tattoos and body piercings are becoming more accepted and mainstream in society, this study finds that some Nigerian employers and employees may stigmatise and discriminate against people with visible tattoos and body piercings. The findings of this study suggest that beliefs about tattoos are predicated on ideologies as well as religious and sociocultural values, which then influence corporate values.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the limited sample and scope of the research.Practical implicationsReligious and sociocultural preconceptions about people with visible tattoos and body piercings have negative implications for the recruitment and employment of such people and could prevent organisations from hiring and keeping talented employees. This implies that talented employees might experience prejudice at job interviews, preventing them from gaining employment. Furthermore, stigmatising and discriminating against people with visible tattoos and body piercings may lead to the termination of employment of talented employees, which could negatively affect organisational productivity and growth.Originality/valueThis study provides an insight into the employment relations regarding tattoos and body piercing in Nigeria. The study highlights the need for mild beliefs and positive perceptions about people with visible tattoos and unconventional body piercings. There should be a general tolerance of the individual preference for body art and physical appearance, and this tolerance should be incorporated in organisational policies, which are enactments of corporate culture.

Rethinking the Art of Tattoo: A Perspective of Indonesian Women Tattoo Community

“…Most hiring managers in Timming's study explicitly have stated they would not hire a visibly tattooed candidate, both because it would mar the company's image and because of their personal dislike of tattoos (Timming, 2015). It is in line with the research that has stated that stigmatizing and discriminating against people with visible tattoos and body piercings may lead to the termination of employment of talented employees, which could negatively affect organizational productivity and growth (Adisa, Adekoya, & Sani, 2021). The risky behavior associated with tattoos is high amongst tattooed adolescents that are associated with high drug and alcohol use, risky sexual activities, as well as illegal or violent behavior (Swami et al, 2016).…”

Employment Discrimination against Indigenous People with Tribal Marks in Nigeria: The Painful Face of Stigma

“…Finally, future research might seek to link the extant literature on tattoos in the workplace (Baumann et al, 2016; French et al, 2019; Swanger, 2006; Timming, 2017; Timming et al, 2017) with tribal marks. Within this body of literature, only Adisa et al (2021) have examined tattoos in an African context, thus pointing to a significant opportunity to expand the research into this under-investigated context.…”

Tattoos as symbols – an exploration of the relationship between tattoos and mental health

“…Historically, the tattooed person has often been subjected to localised societal narratives, and in Western Europe, these have often related to tattoos representing a sign of mental illness, social deviancy (Miller, 2021) or impiety (Barkman, 2012). Despite the increasing prevalence of tattoos, especially within Western society, in the past decade (Wohlrab et al, 2007), there is evidence to suggest that there remains significant stigma associated with tattoos (Broussard and Harton, 2018;Ruffle and Wilson, 2018;Seiter and Hatch, 2005;Timming et al, 2017) and the level of stigma appears to be compounded when intersecting with gender (Baumann et al, 2016) and cultural background (Toyin Ajibade et al, 2021). In considering the societal responses to tattoos, Caplan (2000, p. 136) suggests that the act of getting a tattoo can be considered as "body work" and comments that various other types of "body work" which involve undertaking an activity to alter of improve one's physical appearance, whether this activity is running, bodybuilding, plastic surgery or tattooing, all attract a variety of stereotypes.…”