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I remember the day I asked my Mum if I could get a tattoo. The memory has stayed imprinted in the forefront of my mind longer than the bruises stayed on my backside that’s for sure.

Never before had I seen my mother viciously reach for her belt so quickly, I ran and hid because I was so terrified.

This classic attitude towards tattoos has always astounded and fascinated me because if someone wishes to ‘violate’ their body in such a way then surely it is their prerogative to do so.

I would confidently say that the oppression I was subjected to by my parents encouraged the thriving interest I have in body art today.

I’m not covered in tattoos and only have a select few although it has to be said that the only reason for this is that I haven’t had the time or resources to ink the rest of my skin.

I always smile when I see the little old lady covered from head to toe in a multitude of artist’s ink because for her to stand out from the crowd when tattoos were such a controversial taboo is so intriguing.

It must have been hell on earth for someone from her era to walk down the street without feeling as though she was living in a goldfish bowl. I can’t even begin to imagine the discrimination she suffered for her love of art.

It aggravates me to see that whilst body art is now becoming more and more popular and it generally more acceptable than it used to be, individuals are still discriminated against in one way or another.

If you have visible ink just securing a job can be a near impossible task and I don’t understand why. The elite of our culture lavish themselves with fine art, Opera, fine dining and all the finer points that high culture has to offer.

Body art is an expression of a person’s dedication to art. They feel so strongly about the image that they are prepared to wear it on their skin for eternity. I would say that this is the utmost compliment an artist could ever receive. It is one thing for a painting to hang on the walls of the Tate gallery until something fresher, newer and more appealing comes along. It is something entirely different to know that someone somewhere will carry your art around with them forever.

The sentimentality that goes hand in hand with a tattoo is often overlooked in favor of focusing on what appears to be a rather distasteful act assumed to be partaken in simply for the pain of it all.

True enough, there are people that will go and have a tattoo done to try and compete with their friends to see who can take the most pain and I don’t see the point in such a useless act.

Having a tattoo is for life and should be considered well, especially when you contemplate a while on the fact that you may well one day regret the oversized penis you had tattooed on your thigh because your best friend thought it would be a funny idea.

I do think tattoos are becoming more accepted but my view has changed on them significantly since I have come to appreciate the sanctity of my body. I think that a higher legal age should be introduced because you don’t realize what a mistake you’ve made having a backstreet butcher tattoo you until three years down the line when it’s too late and the only options left are a bad cover up or laser surgery.