Designed as an exploratory case study, this analysis focuses on the determining factors for the placement of tattoos on the body among undergraduates. Previous tattoo literature has predominantly focused on reasons for getting tattoos or the deviance associated with tattooing and tattooed populations. Little research exists on the process and placement of tattoos on the body, especially among the undergraduate population seeking to one day enter white-collar careers where tattoos are still not entirely accepted. Through in-depth interviews with students with “visible” and “non-visible” tattoos, the study finds that placement of tattoos is not simply an individual choice based on aesthetics but rather is based on a combination of several social factors, including controlling tattoo visibility, social relationships, and future employment, among other social elements.

本分析旨在作为探索性案例研究，重点关注本科生身上纹身的决定因素。以前的纹身文献主要关注纹身的原因或与纹身和纹身人群相关的异常行为。关于纹身在身体上的过程和位置的研究很少，特别是对于那些希望有一天进入白领职业的本科生来说，纹身仍然没有被完全接受。通过对有“可见”和“不可见”纹身的学生的深入访谈，研究发现纹身的位置不仅仅是基于审美的个人选择，而是基于多种社会因素的结合，包括控制纹身知名度、社会关系和未来就业，