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“Shame”: 9-Year-Old Girl Walks Out With American Flag Tattoo, Artist Faces Backlash
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“Shame”: 9-Year-Old Girl Walks Out With American Flag Tattoo, Artist Faces Backlash

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Nowadays, people seem to have a rather relaxed view towards tattoos. While not everyone is a big fan, they often don’t care much if others decide to adorn their bodies with ink.

However, when it comes to children getting tattoos, society seems to have a pretty strong opinion, and that is that it shouldn’t be done. Or at least it seemed like it after seeing the backlash a tattoo artist in Arizona received after tattooing a nine-year-old.

Scroll down to find his story and people’s opinions on the situation below, where you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with the tattoo artist himself.

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    Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see people of different ages with at least one tattoo

    Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

    This tattoo artist received backlash for tattooing a nine-year-old

    Image credits: cutzsosa

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    The artist shared the girl’s story, revealing that what she initially wanted was a tattoo of the president on her neck

    Image credits: cutzsosa

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    Image credits: cutzsosa

    “It’s important to think deeply about such permanent decisions,” the tattoo artist told Bored Panda

    In an interview with Bored Panda, the tattoo artist behind the flag on the nine-year-old’s arm shared that he wanted to make sure that the girl fully understood the significance of the tattoo. “Her inspiration came from the freedom she and her family were provided, as from their culture they’re not as blessed as in America. [But] a portrait is a very big step that some adults don’t even do,” he said, explaining why he tried to change her mind about tattooing the president on her neck. “It’s important to think deeply about such permanent decisions; even though it can lighten up by the time she wants to cover it up or laser it.”

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    According to the tattoo artist, the girl’s desire to get a tattoo stemmed from her appreciation for the freedom that the USA has provided her family. “It was cultural and a tradition within the family. She was also proud to be an American.”

    He continued to share that trying to scare the clients away with a higher price at first was also part of him wanting to make sure that they were sure about their decision. “I believe that if they were truly committed, they would be willing to pay, but it was also a way to ensure they were fully aware of what they were deciding,” he said. “Despite everything, they were going to get the tattoo down the street. They had been quoted but they had really liked our work.”

    Many parents say they “would absolutely not consider it” if their underaged children asked for permission to get a tattoo

    Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    Nowadays, it’s in no way unusual for people to get tattoos, even when they cover most of their body. According to last year’s data from the Pew Research Center, close to a third of American adults have a tattoo, and nearly a fourth of them have more than one. The data revealed that the age group with the most tattoos is those between 30 and 49 years of age, 46% of whom have ink on their bodies. Their younger counterparts, those under 30, are not that far behind, with 41% of the age group showcasing at least one tattoo.

    While it’s not uncommon for adults to get tattoos, children or teens getting them is frowned upon by many. Though that doesn’t mean that youngsters don’t want them. The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found that many parents were asked for permission from their teen children to get a tattoo – 27% of parents of teens aged 16 to 18, and 11% of parents of teens 13 to 15 years of age. The poll also revealed that children of 5% of surveyed parents had already gotten a tattoo.

    According to the aforementioned source, the majority of moms and dads were not in favor of their children inking their bodies. Asked how they would react if their child wanted to get a tattoo at the age of 16-17 years, 78% of parents said they would absolutely not consider it. However, roughly 10% of parents didn’t think it was that bad of an idea; they believed that a tattoo would be okay as a reward or as a way to mark a special occasion, or if it was in a place on one’s body that could be hidden.

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    “I believe there should be limitations on the age for getting tattoos, but since there currently aren’t any legal restrictions, I approached this situation with caution,” the tattoo artist told Bored Panda. “I treat younger clients with the same respect as adults but emphasize the need for maturity in their decision-making. But as you can see, this girl is not your typical 9-year-old.”

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    In most states, teens can’t get a tattoo without their parents’ consent

    Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found that the majority of parents believe that tattoos should be regulated, when it comes to the age of the person that can get them. Roughly a quarter of them said that 16-17 should be the minimum age required to get a tattoo, and even then – only with the parent’s consent; the rest of the three-quarters believed that the age limit should be 18.

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    Luckily for the tattoo-opposing parents, in most places in the US, teens can’t get a tattoo without their permission (though in some of them, the age at which teens can get a tattoo with their parent’s permission is lower than 16 or 17). In some states, such as Alaska or South Carolina, just to name a couple, they can’t get one until they turn 18, even if they’ve somehow convinced their parents that it’s a good idea. According to the World Population Review, Nevada is the only state that has no legally defined minimum age for those who want to get a tattoo.

    In the description next to his video, the tattoo artist noted that in the state of Arizona, where he was working, it was legal for the nine-year-old to get a tattoo, as long as it was done with her parents’ consent and wasn’t forced.

    “While I firmly believe in the importance of age limitations for tattoos, I want to clarify that I did not do anything illegal,” he said during the interview. “My focus is on ensuring that all clients make informed choices. Everything was informed to them, and I hope to foster discussions around appropriate age restrictions in the future.”

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    Many people criticized both the tattoo artist and the girl’s parents

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    Some, however, didn’t think it was that big of a deal

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    The salon that the artist was working at received negative reviews online

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    Miglė Miliūtė

    Miglė Miliūtė

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    A writer here at Bored Panda, I am a lover of good music, good food, and good company, which makes food-related topics and feel-good stories my favorite ones to cover. Passionate about traveling and concerts, I constantly seek occasions to visit places yet personally unexplored. I also enjoy spending free time outdoors, trying out different sports—even if I don’t look too graceful at it—or socializing over a cup of coffee.

    Read less »
    Miglė Miliūtė

    Miglė Miliūtė

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    A writer here at Bored Panda, I am a lover of good music, good food, and good company, which makes food-related topics and feel-good stories my favorite ones to cover. Passionate about traveling and concerts, I constantly seek occasions to visit places yet personally unexplored. I also enjoy spending free time outdoors, trying out different sports—even if I don’t look too graceful at it—or socializing over a cup of coffee.

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

    Read less »

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Mindaugas Balčiauskas

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some comments are absolutely absurd. The first one got a point: If something isn't illegal, doesn't make it right. Here in Germany there's also no legal minimum age for a tattoo, but reputable studios will not ink kids under 14 years old. (In Austria the legal minimum age is 16.) And if your 9-year old wants a Trump tattoo, there are a lot more underlying issues than just the tattoo

    Tamra
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Any decent tattoo artist would have refused to do this, and any decent parent would have said no. Stupidity all around.

    Doctor Strange
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Notice how all the comments supporting the tattoo are hateful bigots? Makes you think...

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The parents were ok to consent to their 9yr old having a TRUMP tattoo on her neck until the tattooist redirected her. So that tracks.

    Load More Comments
    Bernd Herbert
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some comments are absolutely absurd. The first one got a point: If something isn't illegal, doesn't make it right. Here in Germany there's also no legal minimum age for a tattoo, but reputable studios will not ink kids under 14 years old. (In Austria the legal minimum age is 16.) And if your 9-year old wants a Trump tattoo, there are a lot more underlying issues than just the tattoo

    Tamra
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Any decent tattoo artist would have refused to do this, and any decent parent would have said no. Stupidity all around.

    Doctor Strange
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Notice how all the comments supporting the tattoo are hateful bigots? Makes you think...

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The parents were ok to consent to their 9yr old having a TRUMP tattoo on her neck until the tattooist redirected her. So that tracks.

    Load More Comments
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