In the twenty-first century, where people want to express themselves and their art, getting a tattoo is no longer just about representing gangs or committing crimes. Times have changed and what people consider normal today would not have been normal in the past. In the article, Secret Ink: Tattoo's Place in Contemporary American Culture, it is stated that: “The growing popularity of tattoos appears to be based on the fact that they can serve various purposes for different individuals. Some use them as a fashion tool while others use them as a method of identity formation, such as commemorating a lost loved one or representing their neighborhood. (Robert 163). This challenges my assumptions because it argues that not all individuals who possess tattoos do not always get them with the intention of being perceived as criminal but rather for something that is very personal to them. My hypotheses are influenced by what tattoos meant in the past more than what they mean in this era. For example, not all people who have tattoos are gang affiliated. “Perhaps some of these historically negative connotations have enabled society's subconscious thoughts and perceptions of modern tattooing.” (Foltz 593). This quote challenges and demonstrates that people still hold these perceptions towards individuals who have tattoos because they still think of them as they were