Teenage girls and their 'wants'

Erinnire

I also think it should all be 18.

Lara44

I got some tattoos when I was 16 and 17. They are still nice, and I don't regret them or anything. BUT I wish I had waited and gone to an *awesome* tattoo studio (like this one, and not just any old local place. Perhaps instead of saying no you can encourage her to make it a project to design and research for when she turns 18.

NAR

OP where does she want to have the tattoo and what kind of tattoo is it? If it is on a part of the body normally covered up then it might not be such an issue.

podperson

Laws can be very inconsistent, and just because you're 'allowed' to do something, like get married at 16, it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
As far as I'm aware she can't get a tattoo at all - even with you taking her - and any tattoo artist agreeing to do it could be charged with legal action. Plus I would query whether someone unprofessional enough to tattoo someone that might be a minor could be trusted with something that will be on your body for the rest of your life. Also although her body is probably 'fully formed' at the moment there is still a chance of extra growth which would then 'pull' the skin and make any tattoo look deformed/misshapen.
I'm not anti-tattoo at all - in fact I wanted one from about her age, but waiting until 18 meant I was completely sure on my decision and the wait made it more satisfying.

thehappybutterfly

Yep, the 'law' is crazy isn't it? Thanks for your comments. Making the age of consent 18 for everything makes sense. But it's just a number - the poster who said what's the difference between 17 and 11 months and 18 was spot on.

She wanted her belly button pierced when she was 14 and I said no. To be honest, I think if I said yes she would have backed down. She went off the idea not long after (which I knew she would) and I think the same thing might happen with the tattoo. But you can let a piercing heal over, not much you can do about a tattoo other than laser treatment.

I'm sticking to my guns and saying no but I'm amazed at how much she's grown up over the last year! She's gone from a huffy black-only-clothes wee madam to a sensible young lady who's taking an interest in pretty frocks! We're having grown up discussions about sex and relationships which was out of the question even 6 months ago.

I offered her a party for her 16th but she doesn't want that so I suggested that she goes out for a meal with some of her mates - on her own. I won't accompany her which was my first immediate assumption - why the hell would they need me there! I'm also thinking of arranging a limo ride - pick them up from the restaurant and take them on a tour of the city - maybe with mocktails in the limo. But I don't know if that's just a bit twee.

thehappybutterfly

Lara44 wrote: »

I got some tattoos when I was 16 and 17. They are still nice, and I don't regret them or anything. BUT I wish I had waited and gone to an *awesome* tattoo studio (like this one, and not just any old local place. Perhaps instead of saying no you can encourage her to make it a project to design and research for when she turns 18.

That's a really good idea Lara! She's fantastic at art and that could be a project for her.

NAR wrote: »

OP where does she want to have the tattoo and what kind of tattoo is it? If it is on a part of the body normally covered up then it might not be such an issue.

She's thinking about lyrics either round her wrist, at the base of her neck or round her ankle. She has long hair so a neck one would be covered. And I think delicate ones around wrists are lovely. But I'll put the kibosh on an ankle tattoo! Too reminiscent of electronic tags!

trina2010

btw OP i think uve got that a bit wrong, it is against the law for an under 18 to be tattooed, parental permission doesnt matter.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/24?view=extent

thehappybutterfly

podperson wrote: »

Laws can be very inconsistent, and just because you're 'allowed' to do something, like get married at 16, it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
As far as I'm aware she can't get a tattoo at all - even with you taking her - and any tattoo artist agreeing to do it could be charged with legal action. Plus I would query whether someone unprofessional enough to tattoo someone that might be a minor could be trusted with something that will be on your body for the rest of your life. Also although her body is probably 'fully formed' at the moment there is still a chance of extra growth which would then 'pull' the skin and make any tattoo look deformed/misshapen.
I'm not anti-tattoo at all - in fact I wanted one from about her age, but waiting until 18 meant I was completely sure on my decision and the wait made it more satisfying.

I did wonder about this myself but according to her, a couple of her friends got body piercings at 14 (which I thought was illegal) and one of them got a tattoo at 15 with her mum's consent. I find that a) hard to believe and b) very irresponsible of the mum and the tattooist. Who is this person?

thehappybutterfly

Lance wrote: »

It is not legal: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/24/contents

Why not get a temporary one? These laws can be questioned as to the difference between 17 years and 11 months and 18 but there has to be a limit somewhere otherwise you'd have chav kids covered with tattoos from birth. Same with drinking, why not 16 but then if it is 16 what difference would 6 months make so then 15. The age of posing naked for pictures / video was raised to 18 but you can have sex at 16 so should we go back to 16 year old page threes..... and then why not 15 years and 9 months year olds?

trina2010 wrote: »

btw OP i think uve got that a bit wrong, it is against the law for an under 18 to be tattooed, parental permission doesnt matter.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/24?view=extent

Thanks for the links guys. That's interesting - I aways assumed parental or adult consent had to be given. But look at the penalties - £50 or £100 - is that going to worry a tattooist? Although if they did it repeatedly, they would probably lose their licence?

Treevo

Lance wrote: »

It is not legal: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/24/contents

Why not get a temporary one? These laws can be questioned as to the difference between 17 years and 11 months and 18 but there has to be a limit somewhere otherwise you'd have chav kids covered with tattoos from birth. Same with drinking, why not 16 but then if it is 16 what difference would 6 months make so then 15. The age of posing naked for pictures / video was raised to 18 but you can have sex at 16 so should we go back to 16 year old page threes..... and then why not 15 years and 9 months year olds?

The legal age limit for drinking alcohol is five and there's no age limit for posing for naked photographs and videos, or else all those videos of kids at bath time would be illegal and they are not. Nudity does not equal pornography.

The average eighteen year old has the cognitive ability for reason, which is why that is the age of majority in this country. A 21-year-old has a more fully developed brain which is why some societies have that as the age of majority. But laws take into account the effects of some behaviours on an individual and protects those who are unable to fully comprehend the consequences of their behaviour.