My Tattoo and Its Consequences
I wonder where I should start from. It is important that you understand how I feel about it. I schooled abroad from my secondary school so you may probably understand the culture shock I encountered when I got back to Nigeria. I came back home at the instruction of my dad to settle here and get a job but coming home was a rude shock for me.
I have a thin line of tattoo running from my neck line down to my butt crack. It spells out a bible passage close to my heart because it was what my mum insisted on writing on her grave before she died. When I got the tattoo, everyone said it was nice, not that I did it for them but I never heard bad words from even my family members. But then, I came to Nigeria and I could not believe what I was made to go through.
Because of work, I cover up but when I am away from work, i never bother to cover it. I find that most guys assume I’m cheap or irresponsible or both. Initially I tried to explain that a tattoo does not describe my individuality but I got tired and just let people believe what they want.
I dated a guy who I thought didn’t mind my tattoo but whenever we visited his parents, he would insist I cover up. I later realized he was ashamed of me having a tattoo which led me to break up with him. He has now married a girl without a tattoo who has cheated on him twice in their marriage
Why are Nigerians so hypocritical? Why does a tattoo mater so much?
Having art on my skin does not mean my heart is black. It doesn’t change my individualism and my core. Nigerians, I have come to understand are hypocrites and I get so angry at how perceptions change about me as soon as people, especially men see my tattoo.
I find it really rude when people say “why did you get a tattoo?” Like why did I choose to commit murder. I wanted a tattoo since I was 14 but my parents didn’t allow it until I turned 21. It was for no reason at all but the fact that I was fascinated by it. I chose them, I am 100% confident in my decisions and I have no apologies.
Judging a group of people based on a choice they made, without giving the individual any responsibility for their choice is bad. I am not irresponsible, I am educated and have a well paid job, it is frustrating that this treatment is meted to me here in Nigeria. A guy once told me, “If you were smart, you wouldn’t get a tattoo.”
I told him, “If you were smart, you’d get to know me first”.
Written by Liz T. For Diaryofanaijagirl.ng
P.S: The Image is not Liz.
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Trust me, I know how you feel. I totally can relate cos I’ve got a tattoo. A lil bloomingrose on my leg,close to the angle And i will gladly lose any myopic human cos if it. Its their lose, their bad not mine.
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Story of life … pple judge without even getting to know u as a person . I v a tattoo at my lower back n all covered cos i just like tattoos. Once some pple see it , the perspective they v abt me will just change as if m a jezebel
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I have not met this people. I got a tattoo after university and recently got another one to surprise le hubs and he loves it. Le hubs has my name tattooed on his body in 2 different places. I guess we are perfectly bad for each other.
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Poor Liz… I feel sorry for her plight.. It’s so easy for us to judge others by their appearances.. With time she’ll find the right person but patience is very key
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This is the story and my life… I have had a tattoo since I was 17 and since then I am a spoilt brat, useless guys meeting you and straight ? ask if I smoke or take cocaine or I have slept with the whole Nigeria. It’s very Annoying, mine is on my neck and hand but I have chosen to not listen. Funny enough I am the opposite of everything they think of. God has blessed me with a man that loves it and isn’t ashamed of me. You will meet a reasonable one soon, trust me.
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Heheh.. . Bullshit! I plan to get a tattoo real soon and I’m going to get it.
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Tatoo for me is like a dent on a brand new car………..
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The only reason I am yet to get a tattoo is because I am yet to find a great tattoo parlor in naija.
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I hear there re ways to get it off ur skin now,
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The Bible is clearly against tats and overtime most girls with tats turn out to be exactly as people judge them to be. I wouldn’t stop anyone from tats my own is if you are a Christian don’t do tats
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