Arce, Robby Jane D.

BSN1-3

ABSTRACT
on

ETHICAL DILEMMA ON DISCRIMINATION OF TATTOED AND PIERCED PEOPLE

IN A WORKPLACE.

Tattoo and piercing as today’s trend is now visible. According to the research of Johnson,
C. New research finds 23 percent of college students have one to three tattoos. It is an art form
using an ink and a needle to express feelings and emotions. Piercing is the practice of puncturing
or cutting a part of a human body creating a hole. A lot of jobs require employees to be customer-
facing and on client sites. Although tattoos and body piercings are becoming more mainstream,
there are still many traditional workplaces that favor a more conservative look. But, there are no
current laws that prohibit discrimination against people with visible tattoos, body piercings,
unnatural hair colors, unique hairstyles, and so on. There have been some grassroots efforts to
make body art and body modification protected classes, but those efforts have not been
successful. Employers being a stereotype that when a person has a tattoo and piercing it has a
substandard personality and professionalism. Hiring person with tattoos and piercing let the others
follow him. Tattoo designs can also give bad impression and idea to other especially when it looks
discourteous to your clients. Biblically, the verse in the Bible that most Christians make reference
to is Leviticus 19:28, which says, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor
tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” Thus, piercing and tattoos are from then discriminated
and prohibited. It is applicable until now with some Christian who believes in the bible. On the
other hand, there are cultures who are mostly at the Northern part of the Philippines that uses
tattoos and piercing to signify themselves and their tribe. It is with the bravest to increase their
beauty and their fertility. It gives them a positive aura and higher recognition and self-esteem.
Thus, tattoos and piercings were not discriminated with this perspective. It is unethical to reject
the application of the people in this tribe due to their tattoos and piercings since it is arrogant to
judge another culture. Utilitarianism states that the most ethical decision is the one resulting with
greater number of people yielding happiness. Getting a tattoo and piercing in a workplace makes
you comfortable and happy; but how about the people around you? Some people gets comfortable
seeing tattooed and pierced people. It is due to stereotyping of the people that when someone has
a tattoo and piercing, he is going to do something bad. Thus, in the aspect of utilitarianism, it is
better for the tattooed and pierced people to remove their earing and cover the tattooed area.

Though there is no law in anti-discrimination of hiring people with tattoo and piercing, it
is unethical to judge and reject their application. It may somehow look unprofessional but giving
a chance to them and letting them show the true professionalism in the work; such as being
responsible and disciplined with the work mates, makes him worthy of the job. Besides, the earing
and tattoos are not the one who is going to work but the people itself. It is also written in the bible
that we should not judge each other inside and out. Thus, it is unethical to discriminate tattooed
and pierced person in a workplace.