Tattoo Society Essay

What is the primary cause that people in today’s society permanently tattoo their bodies? People have been etching tattoos into their skin since the beginning of time. In India tattoos signify cultural symbols among tribal populations. Egyptians have used tattoos to indicate a woman’s status, as well as, religion, healing, and even as a form of punishment. In ancient China, tattoos were considered a barbaric practice. They were primarily used to mark criminals or slaves. It was common practice in Japan to use tattoos as a spiritual expression or for decorative purposes. The tattoos of today are not much different. Many people today get tattoos for similar reasons. They use them to show their pride in their family heritage, their religious preferences,

The conflict surrounding tattoos is clear; there are the individualists and the conformists. To the individualist’s tattoos give them a sense of identity; their tattoos are what set them apart from everyone else. Conformists are those individuals that believe in the traditional way of treating their body. I would say, those with strong conservative views are somewhat religious or were raised with religious views. The Bible, in Leviticus 19:28, says “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves…” As we grow older, we sometimes have a hard time straying from the beliefs instilled in us as children. Moreover, tattoos have become more and more common throughout the years. They have evolved and are no longer limited to ancient traditions. I am sure that some cultures and communities still view tattoos as an unacceptable practice, but today there is a whole new generation ready and willing to express themselves any way they can. To them being separated from the status quo is much more important than conforming to someone else’s idea of what is right for

Dickinson introduces her seventy-seven year old Uncle Harvey. He has several tattoos from his younger years including one he got while serving in World War II. Harry prefers not to share his tattoos with the world, calling them “stupid mistakes” (1999). At seventy-seven, the invincible confidence of his youth is long gone, and he can appreciate the gravity of his mistake. Dickinson also speaks about her twenty-year-old nephew, Aaron that cannot wait to show off his tattoos to everyone he meets, but even he admits that he is happy he waited until he was eighteen to get his first tattoo. Aaron says, “When I think of the dumb stuff I wanted to do when I was 15, I’m glad someone stopped me” (1999). Even after this realization, Aaron still does not see the potential drawbacks of being a forty-year-old man with a Yoda tattoo. By the age of twenty, maybe sooner, children cannot wait to be on their own, making their own decisions, and out from under their parents rule. They long to be on the side of the individualists, making a name for themselves, finding their own identity. However, most will never stray from the conformity they have always known. In an article published in 1996 by Texas Monthly, titled “Needlemania”, Spike Gillespie