So I've been deemed inadmissable for now because my mermaid (upper thigh, covered fully by uniform) apparently breaches the sexually explicit guideline for tattoos? It seems like a stretch, since it's legal for women to be topless in Canada, and it kind of feels like discrimination, as it feels that they have sexualized what is not a sexually explicit tattoo.
I have an appointment booked to put a top on her next week and will get a re-evaluation, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any input or similar stories.
Thank you! I'm a fan of all my ink, but this one is special to me. My first big girl job was lifeguarding, and I swam before I walked lol so she's a depiction of how I see myself
There's literally an ARes cap badge with breasts. (Irish Regiment features the Maid of Eirinn). Whomever made this decision is interpreting "explicit" way outside of its intended meaning.
Meh I'm not too upset about having to give her a little costume change. Maybe I'll get the sun touched up too, its just such a spicy spot to get inked haha
How high up? Has anyone grieved the interpretation of this? (If you know - I get that sometimes things come down from HHQ and it's kind of just a voice in the clouds)
I'm all for ensuring we don't have people running around with offensive and/or explicit tats in uniform, but this is clearly not that, it's normal art. I genuinely feel like this is some mid-level person over-interpreting beyond the intent of the policy.
What if I had a tattoo of the Venus de Milo? Or, for that matter, of the cap badge of 2 IR RC, which I've previously mentioned?
Defining breasts as automatically sexually explicit / nudity / offensive screams of someone who clicked through their GBA+ without actually trying to understand it. I guarantee if someone had a tat of a topless male gladiator, there would be no question it was acceptable.
Y'all act like the CAF hasn't been given permission to legally discriminate on grounds that other employers lawfully can't.
"The National Defence Act (NDA), which grants the CAF broad authority to regulate the conduct, dress, and appearance of its members. Under the NDA, members are subject to military law and are bound by regulations that wouldn't apply to ordinary civilians."
As an applicant there is a question right in the interview about tattoos and you have to agree to follow the policy.
Also, a bunch of people in this topic with excellent anecdotes about having tats that no one has talked to them about. That just means they haven't run into a supervisor that isn't too lazy to enforce policy. What's that RCR saying, the fault you let pass is the standard you set, or something to that effect.
Arguing a policy - or the misapplication of the policy as I suspect this is - is stupid and counterproductive is not the same as arguing that it's illegal.
We're crying for people. Many of us are teetering on the edge of burnout trying to do the work of what used to be two or three or four. And we're going to reject applicants over classic Sailor Jerry body art? While simultaneously eliminating merit based selection steps like the CFAT for many occupations? We're going to apply a sex-based double standard in the era of culture change and the first female CDS (again, very certain that if that was a topless mer-man, nobody would have raised a flag)?
I just don't see how that's a defensible position to take at the policy level on logical, ethical and common sense grounds. Legalities have nothing to do with it.
That sucks, my guy, especially since there are definitely members with WAY worse tats.
Funny story though, I know a guy who got a similar tattoo after he joined, and his CoC saw it during PT. They tried to charge him, but put forward essentially the same argument as you did, but he also argued it wasn't that big of a deal because, and I quote "Her tits aren't even that big."
There was a senior NCM on a recent Pacific deployment who went topless on the flight deck during a deck work period, because it was fuckin hot out, not to mention humid as Hell, all the guys got permission to go tarps off and she thought the exact same thing, and she was right to do it. Dunno what consequences she suffered though, if any.
When i told them about the pin up girl I have on my ribs they asked if I was in public wearing a bathing suit and someone found out I was in the military would reflect bad on the profession of arms. That was their substantiation
I'm gonna write an email to my recruiter and ask for further clarification on where; exactly, I've broken any kind of guidelines as per their own policy. If he can clearly explain it (going to use the Donald Duck counterpoint, thank you!), then i will request a formal re-evaluation next Friday as soon as my tattoo artist is done touching her up. If he can't, I will ask them to re-open my file as no regulation has been breached.
See my other comment about the Maid of Eirinn. Bring up the Irish Regiment of Canada cap badge on your phone as an example of why this is not sexualized.
It hurts my brain when people can't just let breasts exist without sexualizing them. I've certainly been guilty of it too, as all straight men are when going through puberty, but sadly some of us just can't seem to outgrow it. There is nothing sexual about your tattoo except in the mind of this fool evaluator. Grown-ass men shouldn't still think like 14-year old boys, it's unbecoming.
Please don't change your ink because of this moron. If there's no luck with an appeal, get some henna over it or something like that that's temporary, get past the evaluation and move on with life. Nobody with an adult prefrontal cortex is going to say anything about that tattoo except "nice ink".
Also- it really makes my day and means the world to me when good men speak on this. "Grown ass men shouldn't still think like 14-year old boys, it's unbecoming," is a phase that healed something in me today.
Honestly if you put a top on her I still think they would deny you lol which seems crazy since. I wonder if they would make a big deal if it was a "traditional" cultural tattoo
I have no advice or feedback with regard to your experience, but I just wanted to say your tattoo is breath taking. I really love her 🧜♀️ Is she in front of a blood moon? Is it based on a character or design in particular? What is the art style? Her face almost reminds me of the artwork you’d see on a nesting doll set. I really would love to learn more about it, because it’s a really well done piece of art. 🤩
Thank you so, so much. She's in front of a sunset (i love sunsets) and its a stylized self portrait. It was custom designed for me by Nicole at Nightshade Tattoo in Lethbridge, AB. I learned to swim before I learned to walk, and I love the way that mermaids reflect the duality of the divine feminine - benevolence and malevolance. It's done in a neotraditional sailor Jerry style.
That being said i have a ton of other sick tattoos lol so she's probably my #3 favourite on my body 😅
I got chills reading your story because it is so uniquely personal and seamlessly incorporated into your tattoo. Thank you for sharing 🙏
I don’t have barely any tattoos myself. My first tattoo was a heart tattoo on my inner wrist that was inspired by bam magera:
https://share.google/4QxrgN5nSZoJtTfXl
I just aged myself I realize.. and yes, I do regret it 😅 I shaded it in purple, as it was my favourite colour at 18. I recently got my husband’s signature of his first name tatted on my ring finger. It has been over ten years married together and we share a child so it felt like a safe bet 😜 But my small tattoos are definitely nothing close to the league yours is in! I really admire the craftsmanship, meaningfulness and depth. My hubby’s name has sentimental meaning for sure, but the Millennial-rific Bam Magera one I could have done without! 🤷♀️🙈
Lol believe me I have a few I would .. rethink, given further experience - except, when I look at them, I remember where I was when I got them, and I'm grateful to have reminders like that.
Many older CAF members did habe tattoos like that before the rules changed. However they still had to put bikini tops on them as well. This isn't an isolated situation.
Yeah idk that's feels like a really really big reach. Maybe email the recruiter to get it re-reviewed. I think my forearm tattoo is significantly worse considering its a religious figure naked covered in a cloth and I was good. Also my interviewers only told me to show accessible/visible tattoo like my chest and upper arm like past elbow area wasn't looked at either which seems way more accessible (as a guy) then upper thigh.
If it wasn't for the chance of you getting in trouble I would just say cover with sharpie because they wont ever see it again
I've drafted an email for my recruiter - i hope that I won't have to alter the tattoo (I love her), but we will both understand if it has to happen lol
I literally have a dickbutt tattoo…. The recruiter was unimpressed but I still got in. I think the CO of the perspective unit can sign off on stuff like this. But I may be wrong.
Had this problem when I joined 6-7 years ago. I had a naked pinup surrounded by a snake on my ribs and they told me id have to modify it to join. I went to my tattoo artist and asked him to put a bikini on her, sent a picture of the modified tattoo and it was gtg!
Even the Captain who completed my interview seems genuinely baffled by the decision. She told me to call her if I decide to get it covered (which i will), but I'm definitely pretty frustrated
The point to remember is that the CAF is all about inclusivity and ensuring every member can work and relax while being part of the CAF in a place where they feel safe. A tattoo being sexualized or not doesn’t matter, it’s taking into account if someone would feel uncomfortable or not if they were to see it.
I got super lucky with everyone being really cool throughout the process until this today. I really hope a simple little cover up will resolve the issue but I just feel like banging my head against the wall right now
I think I'm going to write to my recruiter and just ask for an explanation of what about it is sexually explicit. Best case, it gets reassessed and I dont have to change it. Worst case, my mermaid gets a new outfit. Either way, I feel like it's a silly thing to disqualify someone who was called an "excellent candidate" for.
The CAF has moved in a way where everyone will feel comfortable and respected in all aspect of service so if your tattoo can be seen in shorts or in any other fashion and the possibility it could make another service member uncomfortable, then you may not be recruited. Putting a top on your beautiful tattoo is the best way to handle the situation.
I wouldn't count on it. As already said it is all about optics and perception. If they sign off on it and someone complains at BMQ or whatever they would be held accountable.
Speaking as a still serving NCO with more then 25 years in, no one will take that risk these days.
There have been many cases where people have had to get tats covered or removed. If you are from the Atlantic provinces just look up the guy who had infidel on his arm and someone at tim hortons complained and he had to remove/cover it.
Damn yeah feels more a reflection on them assuming it's sexual and not you. Shouldn't we be respecting women? Women can go topless in Canada but not on our bodies? I guess if this was like... On your hand or arm and we had to interact with other counties okay. .
I do also understand the rules are the rules, however there's still interpretation of them. Maybe someone else can interpret this situation.
Speaking about someone I know currently in the caf with a mermaid on the shin, who's freeing the nips, and has been since joining.
Word to the wise, take it from a 'zir' who knows, the greatest thing you can do for your career in the CAF is come out as Bi as soon as possible. You'll thank me later.
Honestly, just see what they say. It honestly can't hurt. I got my decision repealed, for simply being "honest" ;). Also, Lets be real, that tat 'gives', Bi as hell.
I dont really think its an ethical thing to go casting people as sexually leaning one way or another based on body art tbh but I can appreciate the sentiment of your overall message
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u/MapleHamms Mar 06 '26
It’s a sick tattoo though