Taboo Tattoo

Sheila Aven
Written By Mr. Shop

Personal Expression or Destruction?

Published: 1/6/2021
By: Sheila Aven

On Christmas Eve, my family was sitting around our dining room table when my daughter asked, "So, Mom, did you show your mom your tattoos?"

Remind you; this is my eighteen-year-old daughter who has been talking nonstop for months now about the tattoo(s) that she can't wait to get! 

Even though I'm forty-one years old, I still felt a little embarrassed and nervous as my mom looked at me with surprise and curiosity with her notorious one-eyebrow-raised look.

I grinned and showed her my latest additions from two days prior. This wasn't my first trip to a tattoo artist (nor will it be my last). I got my first tattoo for fun with some girlfriends as what may have been a right of passage. I was nineteen and old enough to go without my parent's permission, and I was also about to get married (yes, married. I got married young, I know!). It now has a very different meaning or memory for me than it initially did due to my late grandmother's reaction to it when I showed her. She swore up and down that it had her initials in it! I laughed and told her she was right. To this day, I cannot look at it and not think of her, making it even that much more special to me.

My mom has said that she's surprised that out of her four kids, I was the first to get a tattoo and now have the most - five. I think this would surprise most people who know me.

Here are a few facts:

  • Historical texts show us that just about every human culture has practiced tattooing in historic times. 

  • The oldest discovery of tattooed human skin to date is found on Otzi the Iceman's body, dating to between 3370 and 3100 BC. 

  • The ancient Greeks used tattoos from the 5th century on to communicate among spies. 

  • The Romans marked criminals and slaves with tattoos.

  • In the West, the mainstreaming of biker and hippie culture increased tattoos' popularity in the 1960's. 

Martin Hildebrandt is credited with being the first professional tattoo artist. He set up shop in New York City and invented the tattoo machine in 1891. The move from streets to shops transformed the art of tattooing from a hobby to a career. Interestingly, it was illegal to get a tattoo in New York City from 1961 - 1997, as it was banned due to widespread hepatitis. It was believed the hepatitis was due to unsanitary tattooing standards and procedures. More recently, reality tv shows following famous tattoo artists helped to propell the art into the mainstream. 

I find the psychology behind getting tattoos, at least for the typical American culture, to be very interesting. I read that according to some research, 15-38% of Americans have some long-term body art. You could be like Phoebe on Friends, whose tattoo was only a small dot of ink that's barely visible, or someone who is nearly covered from head to toe. Even though they are becoming more common and accepted, I still think people with tattoos are often prematurely judged or given a "backstory" of some sort. However, I am finding it very interesting to understand the meaning behind people's choices for what they've decided to permanently (at least in most cases) mark their body with. It could range from a memory of a lost loved one, a favorite character from a book or movie, a personal spiritual meaning, a specific time or event in your life, a child or parent, or just an artistic expression. One article even referred to our bodies as refrigerator magnets for quotes, sayings, and reminders. Some Christians take issue with tattoos. There's reference to our bodies being a living temple of God to dwell, and also the Hebrew prohibition based on interpreting Leviticus 19:28 - "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you" - so to prohibit tattoos, and perhaps even makeup. There different interpretations of these scriptures.

I am a Christian who grew up in a very conservative Christian home, and while I do believe our body is a living temple, I do not take the stance on not tattooing. My mentality on it is I'm not doing anything irreverent to God or blasphemous, and I'm not taking this body with me in the end, so why not! If anything, I'm expressing my faith. For a long time, I've known that I wanted more tattoos, but perhaps the last year's uncertainty and unexpected changes helped nudge me along in my decision to go back for more. My latest three tattoos have significant meaning to me as I reflect on where I am at this time in my life. 

The cross on my finger represents my relationship with God being my #1 priority as it affects all other relationships in my life. 

The dove behind my ear is a reminder of the Holy Spirit that is always with me. 

The bee on my neck represents something so small in the world. A tiny bee has its specific purpose -nothing more and nothing less- and has a massive impact on its environment. 

Regardless of your inspiration, I think it is an exciting way to express yourself.

 

Context

Sheila_Cross.jpg

Thoughts

– Does your mind jump to any conclusions when you see someone has a tattoo?
– Do you have any tattoos? If so, what was your inspiration?
– Do you have any tattoos you regret?

Mr. Shop
Previous

Cut-Outs
Next

Domino’s