Tattoos are constantly growing in popularity, and the range of tattoos in our country nowadays is large and varied. But, the views of South Africans towards tattoos have changed over the years as the culture expanded.
Tattooing is one of the oldest forms of art seen almost all over the world. It has historically been used as a way of expressing spirituality and identity, and has been regarded as something sacred and ritualistic to various people.
This approach still remains in many cultures today, but tattoos also exist for many as a means of individually representing one’s identity and showcasing who one is to the world.
Attitude towards tattoos
Often, tattoos in our country were, and sometimes still are, associated with criminals, gangs and hate. The apartheid era society was one of repression and obvious discrimination towards anyone who the government viewed as outside of the norm.
The ‘norm’ being white, Afrikaans, straight, religious (Christian) and oftentimes conservative in appearance. Tattoos did not fit into the bodily-policing standard, and enforced for the Westernised society the ‘bad’ behaviour that they already associated with people they viewed as lesser than.
Now, more recently, as the country is more integrated and also more connected to the rest of the world, the younger generations have normalised having tattoos. Many young people have tattoos, in line with the modern attitude of embracing self-expression, and the art form is used across cultures still.
Where tattoos come from
A lot of the current tattoo style in South Africa is very influenced by Western tattooing. The types of tattoos you will find here can generally be found around the Western World.
However, looking further back in history, tattoos have been a part of many indigenous cultures everywhere for a multitude of reasons. In our own country, people like the Koi San used tattooing as a rite of passage for young boys stepping into adulthood.
South African tattoo artist Embla Holm says that the boys would kill their first animal and then use the fat of that animal to make a mixture, along with herbs, to make an ink. Tattooing was seen as a sacred ritual and could only be performed by significant people.
When British and Dutch sailors arrived in South Africa, they brought with them Westernised tattoos. Later on, by the 80s and 90s, biker gangs were the ones who specialised in tattooing, as they had connections to imported materials and used tattooing as a way of signifying which gang they belonged to.
Why tattoos are more accessible today
Systems were put in place by the biker gangs, that ruled the tattoo industry in the 80s and 90s, so that equipment and materials were only imported to professional studios, which were controlled by them. So, it was difficult for independent artists to exist and practise.
Thus, tattooing also grew in popularity when equipment and materials were made more accessible to individuals. And, of course, with the world being more connected via social media, the art of tattooing is more widely available to learn and expand on.
Tattoos and the law
Right now, our country also doesn’t regulate the tattoo industry. You aren’t required to have a license if you want to tattoo, and there is no governing board for the industry.
There is also, with most things in our country, a difference in tattoo quality and even style between different classes. Tattoos nowadays are expensive and generally a luxurious thing to afford.
According to BusinessTech, in our country’s law, the courts have generally taken the side of the employee in cases where employment policy limit certain appearances.
South Africa does not legally specify anything regarding tattoos in the Constitution or the Employment Equity Act, meaning people with tattoos are not legally protected from discrimination on these grounds.
This means that if an employer challenges a worker because they have a tattoo, it will generally be dealt with in regards to an employer’s dress code and grooming standard.
The worker does not have clear ground to stand on, and has to argue on the basis that personal appearance should be protected under freedom of expression.
The discussions around tattoos in a working environment are happening in many places. Recently, police minister Bheki Cele made comments explaining that the police force do not hire candidates who have tattoos.
The minister also went on to say that “when you have a tattoo, we don’t hire you because you have a tendency of being a gangster.”
The policing of people’s bodies is something we see play out in many ways in our society, and we still have a long way to go before tattoos are regarded as ‘normal’ and inoffensive. But the modern approaches of love, expression and acceptance of both one’s identity and one’s culture means that you won’t stop seeing them.
Also read:
You can be an unfit, racist, sexist, abusive cop – but no tattoos
Picture: Unsplash
