A woman who has been called the “most tattooed female doctor in the world” has spoken out. She talked about the discrimination she faces because of her appearance and how she is overcoming prejudice. Dr. Sarah Gray is a former Miss Ink Australia winner and currently works as a doctor. She first got a tattoo at the age of 16 and now, at the age of 33, is trying to improve people’s attitudes towards tattooed people. The model and Adelaide orthopedic department doctor challenge the notion that a tattoo has any effect on a person’s ability to work. Alongside her career in medicine, the 33-year-old runs The Grim Raptor tattoo business. She shared, “Tattoos don’t make you a bad person, and anyone that thinks that is just a representation of their unconscious bias, not of who I am as a person.”
Dr. Sarah Gray continued: “There shouldn’t be any stigma around tattoos. It’s literally just color in your skin. It doesn’t definite you or your skill or capabilities to perform any task. We should actively encourage diversity and creative self-expression. We weren’t born to be sheep.” Dr. Gray, on the other hand, has taken a lot of criticism for her tattoos. She claims that the ugliest mistreatment she has experienced has been in stores and restaurants. Recently, she was neglected by many store employees while waiting to buy a pair of designer high-heeled shoes for her birthday.
‘It doesn’t definite you’, says Sarah Gray
“They all served other customers first and wouldn’t even make eye contact with me.” Dr. Sarah Gray shared with the Daily Mail. “I waited politely for ages and eventually gave up and left. They did themselves out of a sale and I saved myself $1,000, so I guess that’s one bonus!”. She continued, “I was out for lunch in a restaurant with my partner on the Gold Coast when we were seated at a table,”. “After being seated for lunch, management then came up to us and asked us to leave as they had a ‘no visible tattoo policy’ for diners. That was a little disappointing, to say the least.”
Speaking to Sunrise, she shared. “I find it’s a good talking point, especially a lot of the younger generation of patients that we see. I guess it’s a bit of a barrier break-down between what it is traditionally thought a doctor would look like.” Dr. Gray continued, “I’ve worked really hard to develop good professional relationships as I’m fairly memorable. So I’ve made sure I’m memorable for the right reasons through hard work, determination, and an always positive attitude.”
“For those that don’t like tattoos, that’s entirely their prerogative. I just urge them to at least consider the artistic skill that goes into creating body art.” The medical professional is almost completely covered with tattoos. Except for her face, the graphics are bright and vivid, like a work of art. Tattoos are becoming more acceptable in the professional world. Moreover, tattoos have become a symbol with which people can express themselves efficiently.
