I don’t have any tattoos. I never associated tattoos only with jail. When I was younger I associated them with people who had been overseas in the military, and people who road motorcycles. I guess people who had spent time in jail had them too, but the thought had never crossed my mind. I assume even people who have spent time in jail who have tattoos, got the tattoos outside of jail. Maybe gang members get a gang tat?
Just as I was getting done with college (I graduated in 1990) there seemed to be a big surge in young, middle class girls, getting tattoos. I don’t think any of my close friends have tattoos. No one I have ever dated has had a tattoo. I do know people who have tattoos, they just aren’t in my closest inner circle.
No one in my family has a tattoo, but we are Jewish, so that makes us less likely anyway. To clarify, only one of my close friends is Jewish, so religion isn’t a factor for them.
When I see someone has a tattoo I don’t assume much of anything, except to say when a teenager gets one in a place that is difficult to cover up I feel they made a mistake. I also think girls with lower back tats, no matter their intention, send a message to men. I don’t judge it, I’m just stating a fact. I used to love wearing high heals, as I got older I realized that probably sends a message too, where I always just liked how it looked and was used to wearing them.