Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 20:28     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
If I observe anything about tattoos and teens/kids, it's that tattoos are fading away in popularity or desirability among boys, especially middle / UMC boys, but still has an appeal for girls. It makes sense when your brain is now hardwired to embrace tattoos as an extension of jewelry and body decoration, which is something girls have always done but not boys. And that's how tattoos are now portrayed in pop culture aimed at girls.

It's not particularly healthy and a consolation of not having girls is that it's not something I need to worry about. And I would not be surprised if 10 years from now the youth perception of tattoos is that it's a girly thing. Just like makeup. And jewelry. And flouncy clothes.

Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 18:14     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:The only people I know with tattoos (or have young adult kids with tattoos) are either from a lower middle class/blue collar background or the person with the tattoos has mental health issues.


I've read that MOST people have tatttoos these days. I don't love them either and have none of my own, but sometimes taste is a matter of... taste. And it's formed by the environment around us, which = most people have them.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 17:00     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:Her body her choice (and definitely her money) only once she turns 18. Before that, no.


Yes, her body, her choice and her money...but, the fact that the teen actually makes such dumb decisions and parents are unable to prevent it (or are ok with it) is a failure of both nurture and nature.
Anonymous
Post 07/24/2025 15:48     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?




My daughter likes to wear fake tattoos and when she’s 18 she plans on getting a real one.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 02:51     Subject: Re:Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:NP. Under 18 no way. Over 18, your body and your money, your choice. But you are going to hear a lecture about rising cancer rates in the young first.


You think you’re going o know before they get one?


Uh, yes? I have great relationships with my young adult kids. So sorry you don’t understand that.


Sure you do. How do you know they don’t have one already?


Truthfully? They are competitive swimmers for fun and I sometimes see their events. If they had tattoos, there is a very limited amount that isn’t visible. Those racing suits are tiny. I wish they were less tiny but not my choice!

But also you are so weird not to understand healthy and strong relationships with young adults. Like, normal folks can just talk, you know? That’s a thing you can do with adult children.


Defensive much?? Yikes.



Are you the weirdo who demanded how PP could know? You got the answer you demanded, weirdo. That’s not defensive, that’s you getting what you asked for.

I know who sounds more sane and level-headed out of the two of you, and it’s definitely not you.
Anonymous
Post 07/06/2025 23:47     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?


Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)




OH this people who have the most random things tattooed all over the place just so randomly, it's so incredibly strange, no planning just like "I think I'll get a cake tattoo today" and a month later: "I think I should get a turtle tattoo. Poor decisions make quickly I guess no other explanation really.


Or maybe the only reason it matters is that we think it matters, but it doesn’t actually matter.
Anonymous
Post 07/06/2025 23:44     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Both my kids had gotten tattoos before they graduated high school. They didn’t need my permission because the kids give them to each other these days. It’s not what I would have chosen for them, but I also don’t especially care. Tattoos are ordinary now. Also there are more important things to worry about.
Anonymous
Post 07/06/2025 17:44     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
DH has tattoos on his arms. Sons are still little so who knows what they will want but I don’t think I’ll care too much when they are older. Once they are 18 and making their own money, if they want to get a bicep tattoo or whatever that’s up to them.
Anonymous
Post 07/06/2025 17:42     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
I’m always a bit surprised the aggressive anti tattoo sentiment on dcum. I don’t love the look of most tattoos and got the ones I got in my early 20s removed but I just don’t think it’s a big deal at all.

Maybe the posters above are right, this is just a DC or even just dcum specific thing. They are so, so common now I can’t imagine having strong feelings around people who get them.
Anonymous
Post 07/06/2025 14:27     Subject: Re:Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
My daughter and I have talked about it. She is 17 and I am supportive.
Sure its permanent, but it is who she is now. She will not always have the same preferences of when she was 17 but I hope I have taught her to love and have grace for herself at every age - even as she looks back. It will be a reminder of how she's grown and changed. We've talked about that. If she chooses to get one, we will pick a place together and I will take her. I want her to go to a place that is professional, clean, etc.

For those of you who think its low class, I'd suggest you take a look at some of the executives at your offices. I know several executives of Fortune 500s who have tattoos. Its just not a big deal any more.
Anonymous
Post 07/05/2025 22:18     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
NO
Anonymous
Post 07/05/2025 19:13     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:The only people I know with tattoos (or have young adult kids with tattoos) are either from a lower middle class/blue collar background or the person with the tattoos has mental health issues.


Awww bless your heart. Despite all that striving, you’ll never be upper class. Sorry.
Anonymous
Post 07/05/2025 18:32     Subject: Re:Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:NP. Under 18 no way. Over 18, your body and your money, your choice. But you are going to hear a lecture about rising cancer rates in the young first.


You think you’re going o know before they get one?


Uh, yes? I have great relationships with my young adult kids. So sorry you don’t understand that.


Sure you do. How do you know they don’t have one already?


Truthfully? They are competitive swimmers for fun and I sometimes see their events. If they had tattoos, there is a very limited amount that isn’t visible. Those racing suits are tiny. I wish they were less tiny but not my choice!

But also you are so weird not to understand healthy and strong relationships with young adults. Like, normal folks can just talk, you know? That’s a thing you can do with adult children.


Defensive much?? Yikes.
Anonymous
Post 07/05/2025 17:03     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
I hate tattoos on both men and women. But, my message to my children will be that it’s their choice once they are 18.

I’m not going to let something cosmetic impact our relationship. They are their own people.
Anonymous
Post 07/05/2025 16:09     Subject: Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?
Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised Gen Z is into them. My 16 yo things they are just something millennials got.


She’s 16. She doesn’t know anything about who gets them. They are mainstream and have been for a while but those random little ones all over the arms and hands are not a good look.