Tattooing is the take action of making a mark on your skin by inserting ink to the skin using needles and dyes. The name 'Tattoo' originated from the Tahitian phrase 'Tatu' which means, 'to draw something'. Therefore, tattoo, in cases like this, means to leave a tag on the skin we have. As its name advises, tattoos have grown to be ways to individuality and represent people in both positive and negative way. From days gone by to present, tattoo designs have been through a change from religious practices, branding of slaves and individuality of gang associates to a extensively accepted practice by everyone as a way to signify themselves. Yet, the stigma of body art can still be noticed today. People tend to have the feeling of tattooed people as bad and being part of your triad gang. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, it could be due to first of all, the way tattoo was used in the past, the fact that gang customers do use body art as an individuality and finally, the image created by the media, we will discuss them at length later in the paper. To prove these are indeed stereotypes, we will unveil what tats truly stand for.
The earliest Tattoos seemed to come in Polynesia where archaeologists discover body art around the islands dating to at least the next millennium B. C. However, the exact location and year is unclear until today. Therefore, our task will be more thinking about how tats were spread throughout the world. There is no definite response to which country commenced to spread the utilization of body art. Margo DeMello published in his book that North America was the country that induced the endemic of Tattoos when Captain James Cook stopped at Tahiti and learned the art of tattooing there in the seventeenth and eighteenth hundreds of years. He brought the thought of tattooing back to North american and was since that time spread to Parts of asia. The picture below, Shape 1, can be an image of a historical North American with tattoos. Inside the picture, the person has a full body tattoo which extends from the face to his ankle joint.
In another source, 'A Brief History Of Tats' mentioned that Egypt was the one that spread tattoos to other countries. Historical evidences of tattoos in Egypt can be found to be dated as soon as prior to the Pyramids were made. Figure 2 is an image of early Egyptians with tattoos. It is obvious that the old Egyptians had tattoos on their legs and arms.
The trend of folks getting tattooed today is an increasing one. In March of 2005, The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology discovered that 24% of the general U. S. Society acquired at least one tattoo; 17% of these people have considered creating a tattoo removed and 5% of them have had a tattoo protected up with some other design. The Country wide Geographic News explained in April 2000 that 15% of People in the usa were tattooed or about 40 million people. The artwork of tattooing is so popular that the government of America got to create a tattoo connection called the 'National Tattoo Relationship' to regulate the activities completed by tattoo fans and limit tattooing time and sales of tattoo instruments. You will find two significant reasons for the increased popularity of tattoos. Firstly, the process of tattooing is less painful and less frustrating today. The most frequent method of tattooing in modern times is the electric tattoo machine, which inserts printer ink into the pores and skin via a band of fine needles that are soldered onto a club, which is mounted on an oscillating unit. This method is much more comfortable when compared with the agonizing traditional method that was to employ a tool made of carved bone or real wood, and tipped with a cluster of small needles, the designer punches into the epidermis with a succession of unpleasant jabs. Amount 3 is a picture of old tattoo tools within Egypt.
Figure 3
Secondly, the marketing, although also portrayed people who have body art in the bad light as we will discuss in the later part of your paper, it has also played a major role in changing tats into something so popular. Advertising for common commodities ranging from cellular phones to alcoholic beverages have in the past ten years deliberately included tattooed skin. The advertising campaign for Chuck Taylor trainer has created an ad when a man with facial tattoo designs is photographed with a set of shoes adorning his neck. Therefore, with these factors, it is unavoidable for tattoo to be so popular round the world.
Tattoos are not worn upon your body but instead inscribed in to the body. It is often regarded as a product which resists consumer ''throw-away''. Tattooing is a product that involves the consumer to become the witness, participant, and life-long bearer of a unique production process; an activity in which the manufacturer and consumer unite in complicated exchange that is concurrently ritualistic and individualistic. However, before getting tattooed, one will dsicover tattooing as an activity which they go through various obstacles. Like Lawrence, we feel that tattooing requires one to go through the barrier of going into the studio, determine the design of tattoos, the positioning of the tattoo designs and the pain of tattooing. The process of tattooing entails a needle vibrating in and out at an incredible velocity dipped in printer ink creating an indelible symbol on the skin that will endure all the elements and remain there for life. As tats are everlasting, there will often be another thought if they should get tattoos. For one to get tattooed, she or he must be decided to get tattooed to be able to feed these barriers.
Stereotypes of people with tattoos as ex-convicts and delinquents were credited to impression from the past. Before, many countries used body art to mark criminals, to split up them from almost all also to deter folks from committing crimes. In China, for example, specialists would tattoo the encounters of prisoners who devoted severe offences before they were banished to some other land. This is a severe punishment as prisoners who delivered to the mainland after their phrase would still be recognized as ex-convicts by people and it might be natural for individuals to shun them. Thus, it isn't astonishing that the impression of tattoo designs related to criminals previous until today. People before also used tattoo designs in another way, which was to brand slaves. Slaves were tattooed by their masters to claim ownership of these slaves. In old Persian, body art were used on slaves to indicate both possession and status. If a slave were to flee off their owner, they can easily be determined by others that these were slaves and who had been their masters. Slave tattoos gave the individuals a status of 'slave' before, slaves would be beaten up and abused by simply any other folks on the highway. . Inside the Greek and roman civilizations, around 2200BC, tattooing was also used in a manner similar compared to that used in combination with slaves-in other words, a man would tattoo a woman to ensure that she was recognized as his "property" so that as a reminder to her to keep her intimate desires in order. Thus, customers may associate people who have tattoos with ineffective people. People today look at people with tattoos as unnatural people; they would think that individuals with tattoos aren't like any standard person, something must be different about them. Among the reason could be due to how dime museums and circuses before exhibited tattoos. Inside the nineteenth centuries, 'Freak shows' better known today as circuses surfaced. In these performances, tattooed individuals were considered 'made freaks', which means that these were not blessed with tattoos but looked like monsters. In dime museums, tattoo designs were exhibited alongside people with disabilities and natural miracles like wild animals and native people. Thus, this made tattoos seem to be bizarre at that time.
Tattooed people as gang people?
Secondly, tattooed people are often stereotyped to be gang people. This is true to a certain degree because tattoos have grown to be a favorite method followed by gang participants to mark their group identification and their alienation from the mainstream norm and internet sites. Gang members in particular take pride in branding themselves as beyond the limitations of conventional society. Tattoos have long been a way of identifying oneself with a group or culture and triad gangs were one of the first groups to use tattoos as a way of denoting identification and affinity. Body art are a way of both asserting membership in the gang and flaunting their insufficient membership in right society. For this reason, street gang users will most likely get tattoos on their hands and faces in order to permanently club them from being truly a part of normal world. Tattoos can tell other details about the bearer, including rank in the gang and quantity of "hits" or other services performed on the gang's behalf, for example, the yakuza employer has full body suit tats. Tats were also used to express gang participants' often fatalist viewpoint of life. One popular tattoo among Hispanic gangsters is a depiction of the smiling and crying funny and tragedy masks, indicating, "play now and pay later, " or "my happy life, my unhappy life. " Clock faces are also found within the elaborate artwork that can make up a gangster's tats. In the event the clock does not have any hands, it symbolizes doing time in prison. In addition, tattoos served as a way for them to disrespect the power, a desire to have revenge, obscene words and obscene images. Take for example, the Yakuza have full-body suit tattoo designs on them as a symbol of being part of the gang. Body art are painful and long term, this permanence grades their undying devotion to their gang leader and they will never leave the gang while the pain derived from tattooing was a symbol of the masculinity and they were fearless individuals. Body art were not only popular in the traditional western triads, Asian gang triads, like those in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan too have tattoo designs on them. Some Hong Kong triad people have dragons and phoenixes on the arms as a symbol of part of the gang. This may be because in Chinese language practices, phoenixes and dragons are auspicious and powerful pets or animals. These symbols will bless them and invite them to be always a successful triad. From our research, we see that that gang triads worldwide seems to have a preference for tats and the practice of tattooing, thus we can conclude that tats as a representation of gang triads is actually a worldwide phenomenon. Thus, it is no surprise that whenever people face a tattooed person, they will associate him or her with gang triads.
Figure 4: One common tattoo among Hispanic gang people, usually tattooed on the hands between the thumb and index finger.
Figure 5: This sign that means "mi vida loca, " "my crazy life. " Southeast Asian gangsters have followed the same tattoo of the three dots, defining its so this means as "To O Can Gica, " or "I care for nothing. "
In this newspaper, we will verify the role media plays in creating and shaping the stereotypes of individuals having tattoos. Media which include the newspaper, films and television has always been a great power of influence of individuals, influencing our viewpoints, decisions, perceptions, values and even our patterns in life. This is because, growth in technology has made usage of media content simpler to everyone, very much such that it has turned into a tool for people to obtain understanding of the world. In addition, as the culture we resided in is commercial- and media-driven, television shows, advertisements, films, cartoons and even music will influence the way we perceive the world around us. It is important to note that our knowledge of the globe or what's happening around is generally derived from the mass media. Often, it is problematic for us to see or view it evidently to learn of computer. Hence, we assumed what portrayed in the media to be truth and evidence of what is occurring. Studies show that media tend to present a limited and recurring selection of images and ideas which differs from realities hence the media is not really a reliable way to obtain information for people. However, the mass media is not entirely unreliable as its reliability will is dependent almost completely on the integrity of its publisher. This is often subjective among writers of Television series, publication and films. Thus, we feel that careful thinking should be taken whenever we are browsing the media and the use of its content. We should not assume that is true or incorrect in the mass media but make our decisions and viewpoints on what's shown in it. Tv set dramas and videos like LOST, CSI and Jail Rest(See Fig. 8) have portray tattoo designs in the bad light, using body art as way to recognize crooks, villains and gang members. Take for example, local sitcom 'Law enforcement officials and Thief', Make Lee who acted as the gang member acquired a tattoo on his arm. The frequent portrayal of stereotyping of folks with tattoos may cause people to internalize the image that body art are related to villains and thieves. The consequences of internalization can be drawn to case study of media and thin ideals. Research implies that continual exposure to the image that thin is beautiful has bring about people convinced that thin is beautiful. The way the mass media causes people to internalize the images of skinny ideals is comparable to the way it causes visitors to internalize the image that tattooed people are villains, criminals and gang associates. Hence, it results visitors to view those with tattoos as people who are scammers, villains and immoral. Research has shown a consistent relationship between the amount of tv set viewed and values about the social world.
As our world modernizes, tattooing on scammers was abolished and became a development for most others. The idea of tattoos being associated with offense and gang people also changed. That is partly because of the media and the change in gangs' practice. Mass media created the stereotype that tats are associated to crooks and gangsters but on the other side, it also confirmed celebrities wearing tattoos. While using proliferation of the entertainment press worldwide, it increased people's exposure to celebrities which resulted in an elevation of the power of effect of celebrities. Hence, celebrities play a role in influencing how exactly we see tattoos. Actors, models, musicians, and idolized sports athletes happily herald the mainstreaming of your previously marginalized and historically underground practice. This causes tattooing to be gentrified and repackaged as desired and fashionable. For instance, David Beckham has a no. 9 tattooed on him to represent himself; the number he used for Manchester United. Next, there's a reduction in the practice of tattooing in gang people, the reasons why they don't want tats will be discussed further in our project. To unveil the realities of body art, we will look into why gang members no more want tats, and also show that tats actually have many other different definitions other than the most common image people have.
As mentioned earlier in our newspaper, tattooed people are stereotyped to be thieves and gang users. Tattoos were ways to represent gang identity, it also became a way for the authorities to identify gang users and get them. This causes tattoos to become downside for gang users and gangs. It is because their illegal activities could be easily learned if police see a group of tattooed people around. Hence, some gang associates and gangs actually discourage tattooing to be able to allow their illegitimate activities to travel unspotted. Take for example, in Japan, modern Yakuza bosses discourages tattooing to avoid the interest of the authorities. Another example is seen in the Yamagumi supervisor Takenaka Masahisa who has no tattoos. In addition, ex-gang users also stay away from being determined as gang users for fear of being attacked by other gang associates. For example, see in Amount 10, a guy by the name Hugo removed his tattoos as he was attacked on the roads. From here, we can infer that body art are no more the proud icon gang members wore showing their id or ex-gang customers wore showing that these were part of them before. Using the dangers fastened with tattoos wore about them, there is a reduction in this practice in a few gangs. Thus this can be a stereotype that tats actually symbolize gang triads as gang participants can appear to be the normal average person without tattoos in it.
Tattoos may be a symbol to symbolize the individualistic personality of one through self-expression and creating an individuality. Tattoos permit the wearer to be differentiated from the mainstream and donate to the image of these to be unique. In Ervin Goffman's exposition, he recommended that the physical cues offered to others through scripted body performance are pivoted in shaping interpretations of the do it yourself. This statement was further supported by Make B. Stephens, he said that body art are an important way to self-express and create an identification for many, especially younger generation. Among the overall adolescent populations, between 10% and 30% of children or adults currently have tats. Children and their parents tend to be at odds on the acquisition of physical designs. For the adolescent, piercings or body art may be observed as personal and beautifying assertions, while parents may construe them as oppositional and enraging affronts to their authority In using such decor, and by marking out their bodily territories, adolescents can support their efforts at autonomy, privacy, and insulation. Seeking individuation, tattooed children can become unambiguously demarcated from others and designated as unique. Therefore, insurance firms tattoos, it is a means for teenager to convey a message to their parents that they must be in charge of their own body and life. Furthermore, tattoos were commonly used to set-up group identities, other than gangsters, in today's world. Tattoo designs were used as an identification for modern women in Thailand as females weren't permitted to have body art in the early times because the tattoo artists were men and thus, they were prohibited to be touched by other men. Therefore, women with tats in Thailand today would indicate a new period and the change of conventional women image to a far more liberal personality.
Tattoos can be as a symbol of following public and worshipping with their idols. With celebrities putting on tattoos, it causes people who enamored with the particular celebrity to follow in their way. This has led to a different understanding of tattoos. Those who were fans of the celebrities would see tats from another type of viewpoint. They will not see tats as gang people but cool and stylish. To the fanatics, their celebrities have the ideal look, thus they will try to look and act like film and tv set stars by implementing their clothing styles and mannerisms. Hence, we see that if stars have tattoos it might most likely cause their supporters to really have the tattoo designs too. Take for example, Angelina Jolie have plenty of tats. Her fans tend to follow the development and begin to have tattoos on their bodies.
Following with the group in case there is peer groups will most likely affect youths. Youth, aged 12 to 17 goes through an interval of uncertainty of the personal information as this is period which they are neither children nor individuals. Parents treat them as children while they want to be treated as adults, yet somehow, they are still immature to make some of their decisions. Thus, it triggers them to get the peers for support as they are the ones who can best identify with and understand them. Youngsters become put through peer pressure as they would desire to be part of the group. When their peer group desires to truly have a tattoo, they too would want a tattoo to become area of the group as the tattoo will be a group individuality. Although there maybe some dissent about where and what body art should be place on them, but Children would usually just do it with almost all. In this case, tattoos might not exactly be a icon to be gang members or criminals but purpose to signify one's unique identification among peers by being trend enthusiasts, which is to have tattoos.
Tattoos as art
Tattoos also became a means for folks to decorate themselves, in ways, to enhance their beauty. Researchers have shown that stars are icons of fashion movements. With celebrities using tattoos there is no doubt that lots of people look up to tattoos as a decor on oneself, thus they treat tattoos as a form of fine art. This results in an erasure of early images and meanings of tattoo by recreating tattoo as a kind of art work. People treat their pores and skin as canvas and would tattoo just as much as they like on it. People are so confident that tattoo is a form of art it resulted in the increase in volume of tattoo art galleries for the appreciation of tattoo designs. These galleries screen a myriad of tattoo designs, both historic and modern, which help to understand this is behind this body fine art that is inked into pores and skin. Tattoos are not only become part of the memorial, it also became more recognized internationally. Many international tattoo designs shows were organised in an effort to showcase body art as a skill. Take for example, Singapore Tattoo show 2009, International London Tattoo Convention were organised to showcase tattoos as a form of art. These occurrences received frustrating response, with a fantastic 20000 members for the London Tattoo Convention. We see a rise to get tattoos exhibition and that tattoos are gradually recognized as a kind of fine art worldwide.
Tattoos and Religions
In addition, tattooing is a custom for some religions as it signifies their beliefs for his or her religion and can act as a form of blessings to them. Take for example Euro-Asiatic Catholics living on the Malabar Shoreline tattooed birds on their forearms as symbolic of the Holy Ghost, while Christian Serbs tattooed their biceps and triceps with a mix. Catholic women used to gather in the cloisters of churches to get small religious tattoos that they presumed had magic capabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina In conditions of people's belief and religions, wearing a specific tattoo would allow them, on dying, to go from this earth to the land of the spirits. Additionally, tattooing has turned into a spiritual become its process is often viewed as ritualistic. For a few devotees getting tattoos after an extended and painful process, they might usually feel a connection with the spiritual world and thus, tattoos became an important part of people's spiritual identities. It was believed that real human bodies are sacred, thus body art were treated as signs of recognition in the world of the spirits between the Naga, in Assam. This is because the husbands would choose a motif to tattoo on the shoulder of the faithful wives to be able to recognize them in the afterlife. Similarly, Bengal Hindus believed that a person dying without tats wouldn't be acknowledged by his relatives in the world of the spirits. The pictures here are religious tattoo designs used by devotees.
Figure 11: Celtic tattoo
Figure 12:Holy heart tattoo
How stereotypes have an impact on their life?
Stereotype will influence the life of tattooed people in terms of employability, finding a wife and cause hassle to their daily life.
According to a survey, 85% of study respondents agreed that tattoos impede one's chances of getting a job. No matter who the real person may be, stereotypes associated with body art can and do have an effect on others. In general, individuals with tats are often considered 'rougher' or 'less educated. '" Despite such prejudice, only 16% of employers have an official company coverage on tats and piercings. Vault discovered that over half of employees with tats have to pay them up when they were at the job. Forty-two percent of these surveyed admitted to having tattoos. Of that group, 40% experienced one or more tattoo. Therefore, this survey clearly showed that individuals with tats are prejudiced against and this caused inconvenience to them at the job.
Secondly, the stereotypes of tats caused tattooed visitors to have difficulties buying a life-partner. Studies have shown that different behaviour towards people who have tattoos. That is supported by a study done in UK, the results exhibited that tattooed women were graded as less literally attractive, more sexually promiscuous and heavier drinkers than non-tattooed women by men, with an increase of negative scores with increasing amount of tattoos. This demonstrated that men have a tendency to find women with body art less attractive and therefore, this made tattooed women less possible to find a partner.
Lastly, people who have tattoos experience some trouble in life. This is because of its' relationship with gang users and criminals. Take for example, in Japan, open public places like gyms, general public baths and hot spring and coil resorts forbid entry of tattooed people. This is because tats are greatly associated with the yakuza, the Japanese mob. Owners of these places are frightened these tattooed people would cause trouble for some other clients that may then have an impact on their business and reputation.
