Tatoo
Jack’s friend Tony had recently gotten a tatoo (文身) and Jack was so impressed by Tony’s bravery and his tatoo that he decided to get one, too. Why do a lot of young people in North America get tatoos today Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons.
The desire to be part of a group, to be accepted by one’s friends or peers, can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tatoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tatoos to identify their particular group. For example, in one gang all the members may wear green army jackets and have large "Xs" tatooed on their arms. It is not only gangs that have this type of special "uniform". Young people often belong to a certain group of friends. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tatoos. When a person’s friends are all doing something, such as getting a tatoo, that person is more likely to do the same thing, and get a tatoo too.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tatoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tatoos. Tatoos can be seen on people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars. Famous sports heroes with tatoos are shown in magazines. Fashion models are often seen in magazines and on TV wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tatooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tatoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tatoo for its fashion and status value.
It is not always the influence of other people or the media that results in a person getting a tatoo. Many people decide to wear tatoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings in other words, to show their individuality. A musician in a rock band may get a tatoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tatoo pictures of enered animals on their shoulders. Lovers may tatoo each others’ names over their hearts. A tatoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person’s life.
TatooGang members wear the tatoo of "Xs" to show their ______.