文身变得越来越流行了！在英国，文身的人比以前多了，但这究竟是好是坏？文身一直备受争议，很多人对文身都持有 “爱它或恨它” 的观点。最近几年，人们对文身的看法有改变吗？和从前相比，现在雇主更能接受有文身的应聘者和员工吗？文身有什么危险？本期 “随身英语” 讨论文身的好与坏。

Vocabulary: tattoos 词汇：文身

Do you have any tattoos? I don't. I've never been brave enough to go under the needle. But if you do have one, you are not alone. According to a report by Experian, the number of tattoo parlours in Britain increased by 173% between 2004 and 2014. Tattoos have always been controversial – personally and culturally. Some people love them and some hate them. So, are they good or bad?

These days, one in five people in the UK has some ink – whether it's a commemorative date, a sleeve or a full body suit. What's responsible for this rise in popularity? "You see a lot of celebrities getting tattooed," says Lee Clements of the British Tattoo Artist Association speaking on BBC radio. As a result, people want to copy them or it becomes a fashion thing – certain tattoos become a trend.

Employers have become more accepting of visible tats too. Last year, London's Metropolitan Police relaxed a ban on recruiting candidates with visible body art. And earlier this year, Air New Zealand said it would end a ban on body art to allow workers to express their individuality and cultural heritage.

That said, not all employers would agree. Grace, 28, told the BBC that she had been offered jobs in sales, which were then withdrawn when employers saw her hand tattoo. "It feels like having a tattoo is not socially acceptable," she says. "Having a tattoo does not amount to a protected characteristic," remarks Susan Harris, legal director at the GMB union, a UK trade union. This means a person can be dismissed for having one if it breaches the employer's dress code – except on religious grounds.

And let's not forget the risk of infection. At present anyone in the UK can set up a parlour and offer procedures without proper training, a report from the Royal Society for Public Health says. They note that just under 20% of those tattooed experience negative side effects, including swelling, burning or a skin infection.

It seems that attitudes to tattoos are changing, but they aren't quite there yet. Should you be persuaded to have one – visit a reputable tattoo artist with a portfolio. Discuss your design with them and don't make a hasty decision! If you later regret it, your tattoo will need laser removal or a cover up. Better get a temporary tattoo or henna tattoo first and see if you're happy with it. Wear it for a few months and then decide.

词汇表

under the needle 文身
tattoo parlour 文身馆
ink 墨汁
commemorative 纪念的
sleeve （文身像一支）袖子
body suit （文身像一个）连身服
tat （非正式说法）文身
body art 身体艺术
individuality 个性
cultural heritage 文化遗产
socially acceptable 社会上接受的
dress code 着装要求
infection 感染
procedure （文身）服务
swelling 肿胀
burning 发热，炙热（感）
laser removal 激光去除文身
cover up 遮盖起来
temporary tattoo “临时文身”
henna tattoo 海娜文身

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. True or False: Britain had more tattoo parlours in 2014 than it did 10 years prior.

2. Why does Lee Clements feel more people have tattoos these days?

3. Why did Air New Zealand end an employee ban on body art?

4. True or False: The law will protect you if you lose your job for having a tattoo.

5. What can you do if you don't want your tattoo anymore?

2.请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. I am honoured to unveil this _______ statue dedicated to the firefighters of London.

individuality           heritage                   cover up                commemorative

2. His injury will be fine. There is some _______ around the shoulder, but it will go down.

infection                temporary tattoo      swelling                 cultural heritage

3. When I was 14, my mum let me get a _______. It lasted a week before fading!

ink                         tattoo                      sleeve                    henna tattoo

4. This second-hand cloth was a bargain! The tear just needs a quick _______ so I'll patch it!

parlour                 individuality              procedure               cover up

5. I'm scared of syringes, so I'm fairly sure I'll never _______ the needle and get a tattoo!

go over                 go under                  go around               go along

答案  

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。  

1. True or False: Britain had more tattoo parlours in 2014 than it did 10 years prior.
True. According to a report by Experian, the number of tattoo parlours in Britain increased by 173% between 2004 and 2014.

2. Why does Lee Clements feel more people have tattoos these days?
He says that people want to copy the tattoos that celebrities have.

3. Why did Air New Zealand end an employee ban on body art?
It ended the ban to allow workers to express their individuality and cultural heritage.

4. True or False: The law will protect you if you lose your job for having a tattoo.
False. Having a tattoo does not amount to a protected characteristic, and a person can be dismissed for having one if it breaches the employer's dress code.

5. What can you do if you don't want your tattoo anymore?
You can cover it up or have laser removal.

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思恰当的单词填入句子中的空格处。 

1. I am honoured to unveil this commemorative statue dedicated to the firefighters of London.

2. His injury will be fine. There is some swelling around the shoulder, but it will go down.

3. When I was 14, my mum let me get a henna tattoo. It lasted a week before fading!

4. This second-hand cloth was a bargain! The tear just needs a quick cover up so I'll patch it!

5. I'm scared of syringes, so I'm fairly sure I'll never go under the needle and get a tattoo!