New blog post from our intern Rosalie Woodward:
Why is that when women have certain body parts tattooed it unfolds all sorts of negative and stigmatised reactions? But when men get these places tattooed it’s acceptable – even admirable.
“I recently told a friend that I am booked in to get a tattoo on my arm, this will be my first in such a visible spot! The rest are on my legs, foot and shoulder – all hidden away in the wintery months. She hastily asked where I was getting said tattoo, responding that my inner forearm will be decorated and covered with a Chinese lantern design she physically sighed with relief. ‘Oh Good’ she exclaimed, ‘You’d look really butch if it was on your upper arm, women with tattoos there look awful!’ Meaning that I would look less feminine and my body would no longer be seen as socially acceptable. Many women including my friend hold the view that women who decide to be tattooed should choose designs that are small, discreet and pretty- everything that society deems a woman to be!
“My friend, although rude, was merely representing the common thoughts of society in which women and men are expected to act and look in certain ways. She, like many, sees a distinct difference between the limbs of men and women and how these should be adorned.
“I personally also believe that her opinions are based on the body type and size of the woman bearing the tattoos; I am not the owner of svelte, toned arms and possibly if I was a smaller woman a tattoo on my arm would not be an issue. Alternative models and popular Suicide Girls, with their toned, lean bodies and large spattering of tattoos could never possibly be called butch because of their body art. It is their conformity with the prescribed womanly body shape which saves them from being labelled as masculine.
“The world is sizest and other women are so critical of each other, that it is easy to see where my friend’s opinions have come from. Indeed I am sure that we are all guilty at some point or another of looking down on other tattooed women, maybe you disliked the subject they chose, the artistic measure of their tattoos or indeed the limb on which it has been inked.
“Although I tend to disagree with my friend, she is not alone in her thoughts. All tattooed women, simply by bearing ink are constantly fighting to overturn the media and socially created view of tattooed women and the negative traits that they are constantly branded with. Have you been faced with negative reactions from other women? Or have men been the ones to cast a judging eye?
“But the new found love for my colourful body as it becomes more and more covered in wonderful imagery will prevail. Ultimately if you are happy in your inked skin then that is all that matters.”
I have several tattoos but they are not ‘pretty’ and ‘delicate’. They reflect my state at points in my life. My latest one is on my inner arm and covers most of it because it represents so much choice but I agree that there is this idea that unless you are into Burlesque or one of the Suicide Girls that most folks think you should have a flower or dolphin or bird as a woman, discreetly hidden. For me, inking is release and the more myself I feel, the bigger and more obvious they are. If someone wants to ask I am happy to tell them the meaning but I so tire of the things I ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ show as an affirmation of my femininity
All of my tattoos are on my arms (one on the upper arm in a very “masculine” placement, one on each inner forearm), and I also do not have svelte, toned arms. Aside from my husband, who loves my tattoos, no men have ever commented on my them (hmmm…).
A few female acquaintances have made positive remarks. Of course, what they say to my face and what they really think might be very different things. Also, my tattoos are very “feminine” in terms of subject matter (naturalistic or stylized flowers), so maybe that’s why women see them as more acceptable.
I wonder if I look very butch with my upper arm tattoos and massive boobs? Hmmm always felt like a tom-boy anyhow and like to think my tattoos reveal how I feel inside..
I completely agree.Even the name “butch” is offensive. Who’s to say that the skinny “perfect” girls are more feminine. But society has slammed it into us that they are… It’s hard though for women to not feel that way, when men are the ones who start the whole conversation so to speak. When was the last time a guy has said in front of a woman (his gf,wife,friend etc.) that a larger “less perfect” woman was a positive thing? We’ve been conditioned to feel bad about ourselves if we aren’t perfect. It’s definitely hard for us to feel good about ourselves when it is few and far between that we get positive reinforcement from it. I’m not a large woman, but I’m not a toned skinny one either. I’m me.
I’ve got a dragon with sunflowers taking up my entire top right arm. And a phoenix and bamboo running from my ankle to my upper hip. I could care less what some man/woman feels what those tattoos look like. I got my tattoos for me. And me alone. They make me feel sexy to me. They represent me.
That is a beautiful tattoo.
Shame that you ended up getting It on your shin in the end …
Just because you think something doesn’t mean you should day it….
I’m a larger woman and have several tattoos my latest being on my upper arm. I have had some looks but no one has made any comments within earshot, but personally I couldn’t care what other people think, I had them done for me, and as long as I love them thats all that matters.
Thanks for all the comments, i love that my posts get people talking. Why a shame kerry? X
Personally I don’t think the placement makes a women look Butch or masculine
that comment was to Kerry, and all the other people leaving rude comments.