Tattoos on Women, Yes or No?

So I think I'm having a bit of a mid-life crisis. Actually crisis, is a bit too strong. I guess I just feel like shaking things up a bit. So I have been thinking about getting a tattoo.

After posting an informal Facebook poll, I found that people have very strong feelings about tattoos in general, and tattoos on women in particular. The responses I got were: "Pure Trash." "Do It!!!!" "Reminds me of the concentration camps." "I guess it's OK as long as it has meaning for you.", etc...

I'm thinking of something small, probably in the hip area where not too many people would actually see it. I have learned that some girls are getting white tattoos. They look like stretch marks to me, but are less obvious than the darker tattoos. Here are some examples of the range of tattoos I have found.

White Tattoo


Ankle Tattoo (I like this one.)


The famous Billy Bob tattoo.

The still visible Billy Bob tattoo.

Full back tattoos.

Full front tattoos.

The "tramp stamp".

So what do you think? Tattoos on women, yes or no?

Follow Irene Rubaum-Keller on Twitter: www.twitter.com/beasybuns

Comments

[TN]

I wouldn't get one because I get tired of looking at the same thing for very long. The only permanent thing I have ever done and will do is have my beautiful twins.

[sunnybunny]

I got my tattoos on purpose. I had to wait until I turned 18 to get them and I still (25 years later) like what thay say about me. I am a rebel and will always be proud of who and what I am. That said, if you get a tattoo expecting everyone to like it, or no one to judge you for it, or because you think other people will think it's cool, you are setting yourself up for problems.

[Fenderbender]

Don't do it!
You'll just look like everyone else. (Remember how 'Harvest Gold" and 'Avocoado Green' defined the age and style of a kitchen?... Same thing baby!
Be yourself, instead of a walking billboard. You're an original... stay that way.
laura

[Beka13]

YES!!! I have one on my upper back and on my right thigh...I really really really want one on my forearm and my neck but my profession as an executive secretary prevents it....So if you can get one where ever you want you should do it! As far as the pain, If you have had a child then you can get a tattoo..It doesnt even compare.

[dinsquared]

How is this an actual question? And why is a licensed psychotherapist using the term "tramp stamp"? Good to know I'm judged by the location of my tattoo.

[Irene Rubaum-Keller - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for your comment dinsquared. As you can tell from the comments, people will judge you based on your tattoos. C'est la vie.

[Sezin]

A big yes!

I love tattoos, and if done thoughtfully they bring out a woman's femininity. Tattoos are like scars, they remind us of our history and where we've been. I got my first tattoo when I was 19 (I'm 30 now and have almost a dozen more, big and small) and though it is in a place that now has too much flab to show, I still love it because I carry that 19-year-old around with me. I've marked my body in memory of a dear friend who passed away, I gave myself the wings that I always felt I carried inside my whole life. My tattoos are turning into tributes to events and people that have marked my spirit. The pain is brief, the art lasts as long as your skin does. It is a process that I find ever-fulfilling and self-expressive; I highly recommend it.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

A big NO

I prefer women with clear skin lacking any form of graffitti.

[Beka13]

Well that rules you out as my man LOL

[coastalcarla]

Before you do it, consider this. What, if you were going to do it, would you have decided to have tattooed on you when you were 18? Your favorite rock band? Would you have liked having it now? Now think how you're going to feel decades from now about your choice of tattoo. People grow and change - tattoos don't. So what you might think was meaningful and cool now, you might consider a huge lapse in judgement 20 years now.

[Irene Rubaum-Keller - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for your comment coastalcarla. You echo what many have said which is, think about the long term and how you might feel decades from now. Good point to consider, especially if you are very young.

[PatA]

I don't understand why you're feeling that you need anyone's approval to get a tattoo. I'm a 66 year old woman and I'm going to get the names of four of my dogs (deceased) on my back.......with a few flowers thrown in for good measure. I couldn't care less about anyone else's opinion.

[Irene Rubaum-Keller - Huffpost Blogger]

That's great PatA!!!! I wrote this really to start the conversation and less for myself personally. Quite an interesting conversation it has been.

[The Albany Kid]

From my humble male POV, tattoos on women are very cheesy. However, if a woman identifies as a "motorcycle mama" or something like that, they seem fitting.

The most disturbing thing of all are women who have tattoos on their forearms or on their hands.

[Irene Rubaum-Keller - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for weighing in Albany Kid. It seems men either find them exciting or a total turn off and very little in between.

[The Albany Kid]

You're welcome. :-)

I agree....we, as guys, tend to either love them or hate them....there is almost no middle ground.

[MerrieWay]

First off Irene, I'm a diehard fan of yours so I feel compelled to share this with you..
I saw a man in a coffee shop that had tattoos for sideburns and his arms were a snake pit. Being near-sighted I had to ask my friend if the tattooed man was wearing sun-block on his nose. "Oh no”, my friend answered, "That's a tattoo, too." Ta-da! What a weird eye-catcher, best for a horror flick.

You're too pretty for face frolics like that. A discreet tattoo spot might be cool for you, that is if you're set on dabbling in P&P- piercing and pain. Personally I prefer LOL.

[Irene Rubaum-Keller - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Merrie Lynn, Thanks for weighing in. I found a pic of a guy, in doing research for this, who had a shaved head and on the back of his head he had tattooed an alien's face. He had his neck and back covered too. Wild! I wasn't thinking of going quite that far.

[Curandera]

This question is equivalent to asking whether women think it's okay to wear pants instead of skirts or dresses. Yes or No?

If your answer is no or you feel your views on this matter to anyone other than yourself, not only are you behind the times, you're irrelevant.

[KoiPondering]

Tattoos are something that you don't do for anyone but yourself. But having said that its a major investment, always look around, do lots of research, check and make sure that the artist you want does a style you like. Tattoo artists are like any other artist they all have a very different style.

Now here is something that i personally feel. How a tattoo looks depends alot on the person who carries it, and I don't mean the shape, color, age of them. But on how they choose to feel about it, When a person is confident and open, a tattoo is like any other individual marking.

Over the last few years there has been a revolution in body adornment and modification. From the grocery store checker with the nose ring, to the stock broker with the sleeve tattoos. People can say that tattoos are unflattering on women... but they said the same thing about pants. and taking off corsets. Time keeps going and beauty evolves with it.

[Irene Rubaum-Keller - Huffpost Blogger]

Great comment KoiPondering. It is very individual and there has been a revolution in what is and is not acceptable for all women. Some people still consider tattoos to be for the less educated. It is not that way anymore as many of my highly educated friends have them. Things are changing for sure.

[EveryCliche]

Wow, reading some of these comments makes me think that most people don't get why people get tattoos. A tattoo is for the person getting it, not for the rest of the world. Some people want the world to see it and others don't. I've seen some beautiful tattoos, yes I do think a good tattoo is art, and I've seen some horrible ones (yeah, I know you loved your uncle who past away but is getting a large tattoo of the Tazmanian Devil on your foot the best idea). I'll be getting my first tattoo soon. I'm going with my best friend and it's going to be small and meaningful to me. Something that I can look at and will give me inspiration. All that matters is that you like it, who cares what the rest of the world thinks. You do it for you, not because it's popular.

[Feanor]

No.

I can appreciate the art of some tattoos. But very rare is the art that I want to hang on my wall for years, let alone for a lifetime. And frankly, I don't think any artist can really improve on the beauty of the female form.

That said, I'm open minded. I certainly wouldn't reject someone because of their tattoos. Rather, try to look at their body art as a window into their soul.