In the summer time, we are not only exposed to harsher heat we are also exposed to more fleshy protuberances, in all shapes and sizes. This year, I am amazed at the sheer volume of tattoos on people’s bodies. It’s well, staggering. We’re not talking about a hummingbird here and a yin yang there. Entire arms, shoulders, and legs are enveloped in ink. So, what’s the story with tattoos?
Well, that’s the thing. Tattoos now symbolize a life story, from a loss of a family member or favourite pet to a milestone, like the wolf you encountered with a flower bouquet on its head. People with tattoos report that they feel more attractive, stronger and more self-confident. For some, tattoos seem to go deeper than just beneath the skin. One writer gushed: “Whether it is a means of self-expression, fashion statement, therapeutic outlet, and cultural homage, tattoos empower individuals to take ownership of their bodies and communicate their stories with the world.” From scorpions to elephants, each tat symbolizes a part of their individuality and self-discovery.
Around 2016 to 2018 tattoos really took off, and today, it seems like everyone under 30 now has more than one tattoo. The need to imprint a mark, quote, name and symbol is rampant. Once you get one, apparently, you want more. As someone wrote, you can say tattoos are a reward for all to see, or a punishment for all to judge. A recent survey performed by the Pew Research Center revealed that 32% of Americans have inked their bodies and 22% have more than one tattoo. And what’s more, 59% of women have tattoos compared to 41% of men.
We’re surrounded by walking picture books. No need to have a conversation, now we can simply “read” about how much they loved their ferret, the word “kinky” and ramen noodles. “Excuse me, can you lift your arm, I’m trying to see whether you are lost or does the lighthouse signify hope and resilience?”
Many celebrities, like David Beckham, Rihanna, and so many more, have tattoos that can be seen from the nosebleed section in arenas. Celebrities have become tattoo culture’s walking billboards. I remember first really noticing tattoos on celebrity chefs. Isaac Fitzgerald, author of Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos, interviewed over 65 chefs about their tattoos, garnering a wealth of anecdotal data on why they got inked.
“We’re kind of like the tattoo generation. I think everybody has one,” says Chris Lam, chef and owner of Vancouver’s Straight and Marrow, who has full tat sleeves on both arms. For Lam, tattoos are also an indication of the culture in general. “You have to have a certain personality to be able to survive and thrive in the restaurant industry. Most of us [chefs] are pretty rebellious in nature, and a lot are very creative,” he says.
One curious set of findings, was that while men see tattooed women as less attractive, they also see them as more promiscuous. A study in France, revealed that when women displayed a temporary butterfly tattoo on their lower back while lying on a beach in a swimsuit, they were more likely to be approached by men 24% of the time, but when the same women didn’t wear tattoos they were solicited just 10% of the time. Men also made faster contact with the women who had a tattoo than with women who didn’t, an average of 23 and 35 minutes, respectively.
With women on the other hand, it’s confusing. For example, a study conducted by a Scottish University found that women rated men with tattoos as being more attractive and masculine than those without tattoos. However, a study conducted by a university in Florida found that women rated men with tattoos as being less attractive and less healthy than those without tattoos. Women’s views on tats also depended on the type, location, number, and style of the tattoo. (And possibly the size of the body displaying them.)
I’m not a big tattoo fan, myself. As one participant in a South African tattoo study opined: “I wouldn’t get one. Would you put a bumper sticker on a Ferrari?” Those participants who were not keen on tattoos felt particularly strong about the number, size and location. One shared: “I must admit, I tend to be skeptical of someone who has an arm/leg/back full of tattoos – in my opinion, there is something as too many tattoos. However, if someone had tattoos which meant something to them (a name of a person who has passed on or a logo symbolizing an important event in their lives) that’s perfectly fine.”
For the uninitiated, the tattoo needle punctures your skin 50 to 3000 times a minute. Joey Keogh explained: “I think it feels like constant finger pricks and a hot rubber band snapping against your skin. You may get a little numb after a while, and the pain can subside after your adrenaline kicks in. I’ve never cried while getting a tattoo, but a lot of people I know have. Others may scream.”
One final warning: Never tattoo a partner’s name on your left buttock, no matter the length of the relationship because life is often messy. Remember how Johnny got lucky when he changed “Winona Forever” to “Wino Forever”?
