Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1163844
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 SEPTEMBER 2019 | SUNDAY • 8 SEPTEMBER 2019 SURVEY A few regrets, no problems and some rejection TATTOOS elicit mixed reactions but the MaltaToday survey has revealed that the vast majority of those without a tattoo find no is- sue with those who have one. Asked whether people with a tattoo bother them, 81.7% of those who do not have ink on their body, answered No. The strong agreeable reaction was reflected across all age groups, although significantly less pro- nounced among those aged over 65. As expected, among the younger gen- erations, sporting a tattoo is of no concern. 95.3% of those between 18 and 35 said they were not bothered by tattooed people. Among the elderly, 59% said they had no is- sue with people who had a tattoo, the lowest agreeable response rate. There was no pronounced difference across the regions, either, and while tattoos were agreeable among 89.8% of those with a ter- tiary education, the figure dropped to 65.9% among those with a primary level of educa- tion. But this strong sense of acceptance of tat- toos among people who do not have one, was also reflected in the responses given by those who admitted to having one. When asked whether they ever experienced problems as a result of their tattoos, only 1.6% said Yes. This suggests that any regrets on tattoos people may have, are not necessarily the re- sult of social problems caused by ink. The survey found that 10.8% regretted hav- ing a tattoo at some point in their life. Re- gret was more pronounced among women (16.4%), people aged between 18 and 35 (13.5%), and those with a secondary level of education (16%). However, the overall impression that tat- toos are not a problem was slightly damp- ened by the closer margin obtained when all people were asked whether it was acceptable for politicians and public officials to have vis- ible tattoos. Visible tattoos on politicians, a problem for the elderly The question was prompted by the furore over the summer months when it was inad- vertently revealed that Prime Minister Jo- seph Muscat had gotten a tattoo on his right bicep with what appeared to be the word, Invictus. The story elicited a widespread 'so what' re- action, although some questioned Muscat's choice of word. The survey result does appear to confirm the general feeling, since 52.8% of people had no issue with politicians and public officials having visible tattoos – Muscat's tattoo was not exactly visible but a glimpse of it showed up under his short sleeve in a photo distrib- uted by the Labour Party. However, the result was not as strong as the other agreeable responses on people's per- ceptions of tattoos. A strong 40.6% said it was unacceptable for them to have public officials sporting visible tattoos. The largest negative response to tattooed public officials was among those aged over 51. In the 51-65 category, an absolute majori- ty of 51.8% did not find visible tattoos accept- able, while an even stronger majority (56.1%) was registered among those older than 65. A negative majority was also registered among those with a primary education. PEOPLE with tattoos often ar- gue that their very first tattoo was probably the hardest to get but also the one that wet their appetite for more. Whether individuals do fol- low through with getting more tattoos throughout their life depends on many factors, not least affordability. It is only 9.3% of people with a tattoo who said they spent up to €50 on their tattoos, a price range that will probably get you the name of your loved one. By contrast, 25.9% have spent between €51 and €100, while 24.8% have spent between €201 and €500. Another large cohort (20.5%) admitted spending be- tween €101 and €200 on their tattoos. There is a sizeable group of 14.9% who have spent more than €1,000 to get their tattoos, a scenario that is plausible the more elaborate and artistic the tattoos get. Men fell predominantly with- in the higher spending brackets with 20.6% having spent more than €1,000. A third of males, the largest cohort, spent be- tween €201 and €500. On the flipside, only 7.9% of women spent more than €1,000 and a third, the largest cohort, spent between €51 and €100 on their tattoos. The South-Eastern region had the highest concentration of people falling within the high- est spending bracket. The re- sults showed that 36% of people with a tattoo, who lived in the region spent more than €1,000. They were followed by tat- tooed people living in the Northern region, where 28.8% surpassed the €1,000 mark. The MaltaToday survey also found that the vast majority of people with tattoos (78.4%), had between one and three tat- toos. 15.8% of respondents who ad- mitted having a tattoo sported between four and seven tattoos, while 5.8% said they had more than seven. Only 1.8% of women had more than seven tattoos, which contrasts with the 9.1% of males who fell within this category. In line with the spending trend, people having more than seven tattoos were found in the Northern and South-Eastern regions. Methodology The survey was carried out between 28 August and 4 Sep- tember. 653 respondents opted to complete the survey. Strati- fied random sampling based on gender, region and age was used to replicate the Maltese demographics. The estimated margin of error is 5% for a con- fidence interval of 95%. Demo- graphic and sub-group break- downs have a larger margin of error. Ink and spending Have you had any problems with your tattoos? Why don't you have a tattoo? Do people with a tattoo bother you? Is it acceptable for politicians to have visible tattoos? How much did you spend on your tattoo? No 98.4% I don't like tattoos 44.7% I am afraid of needles 5.9% I like tattoos but am scared because they last forever 16.1% It never interested me 33.3% No 81.6% Yes 15.4% Don't know Yes 52.8% No 40.6% Don't know 6.6% | SUNDAY • 8 SEPTEMBER 2019 A few regrets, no problems and some rejection elicit mixed reactions but the elicit mixed reactions but the MaltaToday survey has revealed that the vast MaltaToday survey has revealed that the vast majority of those without a tattoo find no is- sue with those who have one. Asked whether people with a tattoo bother Asked whether people with a tattoo bother them, 81.7% of those who do not have ink them, 81.7% of those who do not have ink on their body, answered No. The strong on their body, answered No. The strong agreeable reaction was reflected across all agreeable reaction was reflected across all age groups, although significantly less pro- nounced among those aged over 65. As expected, among the younger gen- erations, sporting a tattoo is of no concern. erations, sporting a tattoo is of no concern. 95.3% of those between 18 and 35 said they were not bothered by tattooed people. Among the elderly, 59% said they had no is- sue with people who had a tattoo, the lowest sue with people who had a tattoo, the lowest agreeable response rate. There was no pronounced difference across There was no pronounced difference across the regions, either, and while tattoos were the regions, either, and while tattoos were agreeable among 89.8% of those with a ter- tiary education, the figure dropped to 65.9% tiary education, the figure dropped to 65.9% among those with a primary level of educa- But this strong sense of acceptance of tat- toos among people who do not have one, was toos among people who do not have one, was also reflected in the responses given by those also reflected in the responses given by those who admitted to having one. When asked whether they ever experienced When asked whether they ever experienced problems as a result of their tattoos, only This suggests that any regrets on tattoos This suggests that any regrets on tattoos people may have, are not necessarily the re- sult of social problems caused by ink. The survey found that 10.8% regretted hav- ing a tattoo at some point in their life. Re- gret was more pronounced among women gret was more pronounced among women (16.4%), people aged between 18 and 35 (16.4%), people aged between 18 and 35 (13.5%), and those with a secondary level of However, the overall impression that tat- toos are not a problem was slightly damp- ened by the closer margin obtained when all ened by the closer margin obtained when all people were asked whether it was acceptable people were asked whether it was acceptable for politicians and public officials to have vis- Visible tattoos on politicians, a problem for The question was prompted by the furore The question was prompted by the furore over the summer months when it was inad- vertently revealed that Prime Minister Jo- seph Muscat had gotten a tattoo on his right seph Muscat had gotten a tattoo on his right bicep with what appeared to be the word, bicep with what appeared to be the word, Arms 43.4% Back 15.5% Chest 2.7% Head/face/ neck 4% Legs 27.9% Somewhere else 6.5% Where respondents had their tattoos done