by babyfever25
This post sort of relates to Mama Pig's "
Girls and their Piercings: What's the Limit?" post. I'm not going to go into piercings, but I'm wondering if you all feel the same way about girls and tattoos.
I remember wanting a tattoo ever since I was little. I used to watch Buffy and the Vampire Slayer and was completely fascinated with a girl character's tattoo. Ever since then, I was hooked, and as I got older, I would constantly remind my mother of that fact. Of course, she just laughed it off because I was a kid and she probably thought that it was a silly phase I was going through.
Anyway, when my best friend and I graduated high school a little over two years ago, we decided to pull through with the whole tattoo thing. We were already 18 years old and by the time we made the decision to get it done together, it was already August, ad I was already getting ready to move in to my college dorm. Well, when M and I set a date, you should've seen the expression on my mother's face. My dad's response when my mother told him was, "What the hell is wrong with this kid?" and my mother gave me a speech about how she thought I was kidding and how I'm going to ruin my body. And that wasn't all. She knew that I put money away in a separate account for my tattoo, and the day M and I decided to get it done, my mother refused to drive me to the bank because she didn't want me to get it.
To make a long story short, I walked to the bank and then I went with M and we got our tattoos done. She got a tropical flower on her ankle and I got a purple rose with a heart next to it, and a band across it that says "heritage" (similar to the above picture). I got a purple rose because it's the color of my birthstone, a heart because I'm a loving and passionate person (and I'm surrounded by those kinds of people, too), and I chose "heritage" because I wanted to express how my Italian/Puerto Rican culture is a big part of who I am. It's not as complicated or as huge as it sounds... it fits perfectly on my right ankle. Of course when I got home, my parents weren't so thrilled with it but over the years, they've learned to accept it, even though they think it's a "manly" and "trashy" thing to do. I mean, don't get me wrong... I'm not a big fan of tribal tattoos on women, or even dragons or any other kind of bizarre drawings, but we all have different tastes. I think as long as you get something symbolic or representative of who you are, it's purely body art. Oh well... I guess you can't please everybody...
Do you or your children have any tattoos? Do you think it's trashy for girls to have tattoos, or for people to have tattoos in general?
Comments (104)
I don't believe you can base anything on tatoos; and especially someone's character. Tattoos are a form of art ...
You must judge the individual, not the body decorations.
@RubyBogonia@xanga - Right on!
Bring on the body art. I have one on my shoulder but I can not talk my wife into wanting to get one. Its no big deal though.
I plan on getting tattoos one day. I think some tattoos can be vulgar or trashy, but most of the time, they're not all that bad.
I want to get the NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) logo on my right hipbone after I complete recovery, a tattoo of every type of rocket ever used by NASA in various degrees of launch because I plan on being an astrophysicist and aerospace engineer for NASA (and both sides of my family worked for NASA), and a peacock (based on a drawing I love) down my back.
Nothing trashy about those.
as a young adult with already 3 tattoos (and plans for many more) i hope that our society has become more liberal and nonjudgmental about people who express themselves differently. i hate when people dispose of tattoos as trashy or manly. true, some of the first tattoos originated from the world war, tribes, sailors, and people from jail creating their own tattoo machines. however, the technology, sanitation, and artistry of tattoos has improved considerably since this time. tattoo artists go through strict sanitation requirements and practice this daily, and they also have to have certification of blood pathogens and other related things. many tattoo artists have a huge background in art, and their pieces are absolutely breath-taking. to me, the body is an amazing canvass and with the knowledge that tattoos are permanent (with the exception of new removal technologies), the importance of self expression in this art form is more apparent.
Once, I saw a guy who had Jesus on the cross tattooed across his back. Like, as close to life size as you can get. I am not hugely fond of tattoos but when they mean something to the person then it's okay. I've thought about getting one from time to time, but I could never really settle for anything,
I have five tattoos, and I love them all dearly. I think they're all absolutely beautiful, and frankly they are tasteful, in my opinion.
I think that tattoos CAN be trashy - stupid decisions, bad artists, etc. etc., but if you genuinely care about who is doing your work and what you are getting done, I don't think it's fair for anyone to judge you for it.
@AdviceHunter@xanga - No, in truth,it isn't; but you'd be surprised how the eyebrows are raised when they see a tattoo, and how judgemental they become.
I have one on my lower right back. It's a dragonfly...I think they are so beautiful and so free. When I got it my mom said, "I brought you into this world so beautiful and pure"...but to this day my mom will yank up my shirt and show people because she thinks it's pretty or she wants to show them JUST how much I love dragonflies. I did have mine strategically placed, however, just so that it is my option as to who I show and who I don't. I don't at all think a tattoo reflects/defines who a person is...I once watched an episode of Jay Leno asking the audience if they thought a person on the street had a tattoo or not...you'd be surprise how many were answered wrong.
I don't mind if my daughters get one. They are a little young at the moment. Here is a pic of my tattoo. Is it trashy? Tattoo
I have NUMEROUS, a whole back piece and half sleves, I love them and think they are a beautiful and wonderful way to express ones self and their life, I was a sailor and well I guess feel into the wholebody art thing kind of hard that way but was already well on my way before I enlisted, that being said I do love them however there is a limit and I think once you as a woman get to the point where you can not dress up with them being covered they start to get trashy, as long as you can still look nice when you ahve to I think it is great on the other hand beauty and "looking nice" is in the eye of the beholder and you might think that a body suit of ink is beautiful and if you do then your right you are a beautiful person, as long as you are okay with you then don't worry about those people that pre judge you.
I actually think that tattoos are a great way to express yourself. I'm planning on getting a tattoo (Don't know how soon), but I also want to make it unique, which is why I'm going to create it myself. However, there is a certain limit to be reached before it just seems obsessive or repulsive. Some tattoos here and there are awesome.
It's never trashy or manly. It's just a form of expression like getting a haircut, piercings, the clothes you wear, etc.
If everyone judged everyone else by their skin, either by the color or the ink on it, we would be living in a sad world. I've seen some horrid tattoos on both men and women but over all, a tattoo doesn't make or break your character.
I have a tattoo and plans for many more if only I had the money.
I probably won't let any of my kids (sons or daughters) get tattoos until they are 18. By then, it's their decision and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm not a big fan of tattoos, but that doesn't mean I would judge anyone with them. I just think that my tastes at 18 are so different from my tastes now (10 years later). I can't imagine how my tastes will have changed by the time I'm 70.
I'm not personally a fan of tattoos, but I don't really find anything wrong with them. The only caution I would ever give a woman is make sure you're ok with where you put one! I've seen one too many tattoos messed up by pregnancy and weight gain/loss. Also, if you plan to be any type of Executive at a somewhat large company, I would recommend that you put one at a place that isn't too obvious, because not all companies want their Executive sharing their personal views on things in obvious places!
My mother has 1 and my father has 3. I am aloud to do whatever I want when I turn 18.
Oh no, so unpure! Needles in skin! Patterns on skin forever!!! OMUHGAWD!!!
Why does everyone judge tattoos so much? It's purely ink and it's purely art. If I had money, I would get sleeves. Of course 18 is the appropriate age. Once kids get a small sense of reality.
I have one- I got it when I was 20. Now I'm regretting the placement- It is on my back shoulder (scapula). When (if) I get married, I can't choose a dress that will show the tattoo... I don't want it to show.
My husband is a preacher, (to most, thats a position that you are supposed to be "perfect" etc..)...but we BOTH want tattoos. I think there are tattoos for every walk of life! My husband and I would both love something that included a cross or a symbol of our faith (Come to think of it the cross is the only one I can think of anyways)...
However, I think there are ways to make them LOOK trashy, no matter WHAT you have, for instance, Only my opinion...but, when I see a guy who is covered in tattoos...like LITERALLY covered, I think ICk. But, I love the smaller, lower back tattoos, etc. It just depends what you have and where.
<3Ashley
I have a tattoo on my ankle and I don't think they're trashy at all. I've seen ones that seem to be a little much to me, but it's a personal choice and I don't mind. It's just a form of expressing oneself.
I am bad news....that is all I know
I love my rotten hooker tattoo though...the rest of them I could really care less
People that judge you because of piercings and tattoos piss me off though. who really cares?
I have one. And I love it. My best friend sitting next to me has 5 and she loves them, too :) I don't think I'll get any more but I don't think they're trashy or anything. But mine is in a place where it can be covered up while at work, etc. I don't mind if my kids get a tattoo - once they turn 18.
I have four tattoos. I have a tribal heart on my lower back (yes, a tramp stamp), a design with four hearts in it that I drew in 6th grade and got 11 years later on my right ankle, an Elven star (7 pointed star) on my wrist, and on my left ankle I have a charm bracelet with Hello Kitty (my fave since childhood), a yin/yang for me and my best friend, a flower, a heart for my love of hearts, and a musical note for my love of music.
I don't plan on getting anymore because anywhere else would be in an obvious place.
I have one on my shoulder it's the breast cancer symbol with the hebrew for the Lord who heals you on it. I want another so naturally I don't think they are bad. There is a limit though and women have to be careful that it doesn't become tasteless. done correctly I think it can be very beautiful
i have one tattoo. it is on my left shoulder and says "we all live by the rules of the games we play" to me it symbolizes the end of a bad relationship. it also is a true statement.
i am planning another one on my other shoulder in honor of my grandpa who passed away in 2004 next year will be 5 years so on the day of his death i want to get what his gravestone says on my back "i love you one- one of everything" its part of my healing process
i think that as long as you truly sat down and thought about your tattoo and are getting it for special reasons like remembrance, celebration of faith etc then thats good, but to tattoo yourself with some picture off the rack because you just turned 18 and can is wrong for eventually you will hate the tattoo. lol
<3 Nikkie
A few of my friends got tattoos when they turned 16 or 18 and I know they're pretty happy with them now. I dunno about the future- they're all in pretty unrevealing positions. I'm kind of afraid of needles but when I turn 20 or 21 (so I have time to think on it) I'll probably get theater masks or something on my ankle.