The “women with tattoos in a nice dress” argument

I’ve heard this point made by at least three separate boomers.

Sitting in a bar yesterday with an older Gen X woman and a self-described old man in his 80s. I (49) am chatting as pleasantly as I can. The subject of tattoos comes up. Both she and I have several visible pieces. Old man volunteers “I don’t like it when girls have tattoos“. Of course he says girls and not women.

I point out that my girlfriend (46) has several beautiful tattoos on her arms. He visibly winces and says “what happens when she has to go somewhere where she wears a nice dress? That shows her shoulders and arms!?“ I just respond “she’ll look beautiful in her nice dress and her beautiful tattooed arms and shoulders as well, that’s what.“ “Beautiful to you maybe“ old man responds shaking his head.

I’ve heard this hypothetical “nice dress“ argument a few times now. Forgetting for a moment their inability to comprehend that women don’t merely exist to be attractive to them specifically, what is this hangup about having tattoos in a nice dress??