Tattoos - Disrespectful?

astralis · #1 04-27-2005, 12:27 PM

Many girls in my chapter have been getting tattoos recently.. one got a strawberry, one got a cross.. and they all said that they'd get our letters, except that it's considered disrespectful to get our letters inked.
Does anyone have anymore information on this? I know it's quite common in other Greek houses to get letter/symbol/family tattoos... I was just wondering if it was something in our chapter, or in our province, or if it was just a general rule.
Thanks!

SigK_Bama · #2 04-27-2005, 01:09 PM

My undergrad actually amended the COC to say that no sister could get a tattoo having anything to do with Sigma Kappa - no letters, symbols, words, nada. Some people were pissed because they wanted a tattoo with a heart or something, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. I think only a couple of us had tattoos in college.

I wouldn't be shocked to see a vote like this come up at Convention in the future. Sure, it's cool when you're in college and you can get your letters tattooed on your ankle or wherever, but honestly, the love some people feel for their college organization doesn't extend past the four years they are in school. And even if you're 50 and still lovelovelove your sorority, how cool does it look when the design is all wrinkly and saggy and you have to either wear long pants all the time or can't wear shoes without socks because you have this big SK tattoo on your ankle?

SigkapAlumWSU · #3 04-27-2005, 01:34 PM

This is the way my chapter has always seen it. You can't wear your letters drinking or smoking/being disrespectuful, right? well, when you have a tattoo of your letters, you can't take that off when you walk into the bar or when you light up.

I have a tattoo of a violet on my lower back; it's a symbol for myself, and most people won't realize that. If you get anything at all, I would say a symbol, like a heart, dove or violet, but NEVER letters. Show your love in a different, and more symbolic way. Oh, and think about it for at least 6 months to a year; that thing is there forever, better make sure it's what you want to represent for the rest of your life.

sueali · #4 04-27-2005, 06:28 PM

This is not a rule in my chapter so, No it is not a national rule. I actually know CPO's, CDD's and ABC's who have tattoes. I myself have a tatoo of our letters, so does sigkapqueen (we got them together). To me this is not disrespectful as it reminds me everyday of what sigma kappa means to me. Both our tattoes are respectful and can be covered with a bandaid if need be. It's just a matter of personal opinion.

UFSigKap · #5 04-28-2005, 11:38 PM

I don't think it is disrespectful. If someone thinks long and hard about it then I say go for it. I am deathly scared of needles or I would probably get a small dove with sigma kappa in greek letters next to it. When I was at COTS a few years ago I saw tons of advisors from other schools with tattoos. One of the more memorable ones was a tattoo of the pledge pin like 5 inches long on the inside of a woman's ankle. I think some people get too caught up in caring about what other people are doing with their bodies. So what if it shows when a girl goes out...to me it means she loves the sorority so much she is willing to live with it on her body for the rest of her life.

Aquastar · #6 05-01-2005, 12:49 AM

Sadly as a poor college student I haven't been able to get a tatt yet ... but when I get one I plan on having it on the back of my shoulder and I want our Pledge pin. You can cover tatts when you are drinking (which I don't) and any other time you need to cover it. They also dont get "saggy and wrinkled" depending on where you get it. NHQ hasn't said you couldn't and I've seen WAY more innapproriate places our letters have been and well, once you aren't an active member of a chapter anymore, there is really nothing anyone can do about it. I love our letters and choose to express my love for my letters in that way, putting them on your ass ... well ... I have oppinions about that ... but I don't see what the problem is if they are tastefully done. Then again, taste is also dependent on who you ask as well ...

cuteboy'smom · #7 05-02-2005, 11:20 PM

GIRLS!!!!!!

Today is my 40th birthday, and take it from me, you will not want sorority letters tattooed ANYWHERE on your body when you are my age. Trust me on this.

BetteDavisEyes · #8 05-04-2005, 04:00 PM

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

Now, I too have a low threshold for pain. I actually cried when I got my ears pierced & I was 18! I'm a big baby so I will never get a tattoo.

_Lisa_ · #9 05-05-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BetteDavisEyes
Now, I too have a low threshold for pain. I actually cried when I got my ears pierced & I was 18! I'm a big baby so I will never get a tattoo.

I'm the same way-I could never get a tattoo because of my threshold for pain. Plus-I could probably never decide what I'd want on my body for the rest of my life. I change my mind too much!