Orlando Fringe 2007
I had the fortune this year to go to the
Orlando Fringe Festival on David's recommendation and really had an enjoyable time. I saw the following shows:
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Dishpig -
Sport: REMATCH -
Fool House - Out of Pocket
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52 Pick Up -
Jesus in Montana -
Love Isn't Black & White----
And now, for my haiku...
Orlando Fringe Shows
Complexities and laughter
Mirror my own life
It's always a work in progress...
I realize the following is nowhere near the concise argument that it needs to be, but it addresses the subject of my tattoos. Anyone who knows me will tell you how important my tattoos are to me. I read a posting from
a blogger who was thrilled about the appointment of a new head of the Brooklyn Public Library System (Dionne Mack-Harvin) and praised her view of the library as a "vibrant community center" rather than a vault of books.
The reason why this struck me as so quotable today? Our summer wardrobe time is coming up here at our library. I have worked here for about a year and have long been frustrated by the complete lack of a written dress code. In fact, the only way to know that one would know that they are violating the dress code is when a supervisor asks that you go home to change. I have three tattoos on my right forearm and when I chose to get my tattoos in such a prominent place, it was one of the most liberating experiences I have ever known. No longer was there any question in my mind that I became more beautiful by the mere presence of my artwork, but I feel it really conveys what I hold inside of me each day. Some people ask questions from curiosity, and others ask questions of disparagement, but every time I look at any of my tattoos, I feel happy; I can't help but to smile!
Since most of my jobs have been in a corporate environment, there has never been any doubt in my mind that long sleeves would be required in any position I sought. This is the first job I have held that I thought otherwise. I work in a children's department and we do many programs outdoors in the summer. The current understood requirement is that I must wear long pants (to cover the cat tattoo on my leg) and long sleeves (to cover my arm tattoos) all the time. Until this point, I never questioned that policy, despite it's lack of backup in writing. But two days ago, I took the plunge and requested from my manager that if they were going to require me to cover my tattoos that they put it in writing so there was no question or unintended violation.
In light of the impending layoffs our county is likely to dole out (reduction in property taxes means reduction in force, and I am one of the low people on the totem pole!), I hesitated to even bring it up to her, but did so anyways. At this point, what do I have to lose? :)
There has been no solid reply, save her approaching me and saying that I can expose them one day a month, on a Saturday, but then re-analyzing and telling me that I am under "special consideration".
The reason this strikes me as odd is that if we consider the library a community center for all representations to feel educated and safe and involved, why do we ask people to hide that? All within reason of course. I am not advocating that we allow people to expose racially/gender/sexually insensitive materials (be it tattoos, t-shirts, etc etc), but I don't see the problem with hair that might be a bright color or tattoos being exposed during casual dress days. If we are a place to promote tolerance of all different lifestyles and community, why do we ask the employees to shun that for 40 hours a week?
I don't expect things to change, and I am very familiar with the counter-argument that as tax-funded employees, we must present a professional look to our customers, and if I worked anywhere other than the library, I would accept this as fact and not bother to question it (despite the lack of written dress code), but Mack-Harvin's quote sums up my point in a critical way. I am vibrant, I am part of the community, and I am proud to be who I am, even when I receive the disparaging questions.
To me, the snarky humor of the situation is that 2/3 of the tattoos on my arm are from children's books. I work in a children's department. :)
Labels: culture, social activism, tattoos
