A young woman from Singapore recently posted a TikTok video sharing some encounters she had with people commenting on her tattoos in public. Although the comments were not particularly mean, many strangers expressed surprise and shock at her half sleeve tattoo. Despite the attention she receives, she mentioned that she has learned to cope with it.
The TikTok user, known as Jeynelle, recounted her first experience at a camera store. While buying her camera, an older man asked her in Chinese if she, as a young person, was not afraid of the pain associated with getting a tattoo. When she confirmed that it was indeed painful, he questioned why she still chose to get inked.
Jeynelle did not disclose her response to the man’s inquiry but proceeded to share another encounter she had while taking a private-hire car. At the time, she was wearing a spaghetti strap top, which fully exposed her tattoos.
The driver asked her if she needed to cover them up, leaving her confused as to why that would be necessary. Instead of providing an explanation, the driver glanced at her tattoos and diverted the conversation by talking about the possibility of the weather getting cold.
In addition to these incidents, Jeynelle revealed that she has also faced more hurtful comments in the past. People have made derogatory remarks, questioning why she chose to “ruin” her body with tattoos.
She also shared about a guy that she was dating in the past, whose parents couldn’t accept her for her tatttoos.
Jeynelle acknowledged that having tattoos is still considered taboo in Singapore, especially since she grew up in a conservative family that held similar beliefs. She admitted that when she was younger, she associated tattoos with “bad people.”
However, as she matured, she came to view tattoos as a form of expression and a way for individuals to establish their identity. In a difficult period of her life, she turned to tattoos as a source of comfort and decided to get one.
Although her parents were initially shocked when they discovered her tattoo, they have gradually accepted it as part of her identity, despite their continued disapproval.
While Jeynelle has faced some negative reactions, she has also received positive feedback on her tattoos. She recalled an incident in which a girl complimented her tattoos in a public restroom, describing them as really cool.
Despite the varied reactions and perceptions she has encountered, Jeynelle has grown accustomed to the stigma and has learned to live with it. She hopes that Singaporeans will move beyond the taboo surrounding tattoos and not make assumptions about a person’s character based on their body art. Instead, she believes it is important to take the time to understand and get to know individuals before passing judgment.
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