The importance of Context

Context is defined as:   “The situation within which something exists or happens, and that can help explain it”.

Context is something that we, as a society, seem to have forgotten about. When the latest atrocity hits our news outlets we look at it in isolation. We try and analyse why it has happened, what could have caused it but this is done without taking into account the context in which the act happened. By dismissing societal norms and ignoring outside influences (unless its extremist islam, we actively look for that)  we fail to fully understand the situation.

Everyday situations also require us to consider context. We are quick to judge or jump to conclusions about each other but often this is done without holding all of the facts. This leads us to a narrow view and understanding of the world.

Recently I have wanted to scream the word context at so many reports on the news or to peoples arguments online. The media takes issues or topics in isolation to report them but this has lead society to treat all things in this manner. Arguments or opinions should be informed with supporting facts and many of these facts are related to the incident, not neccesarily just about that one incident.

Until society, including mediaoutlets, start to discuss things in their context, we cannot hope to reach an understanding of how to stop it from happening again or how to solve the problem at hand. Knowledge leads to understanding which in turn can lead to solutions. Without all the facts, we can never resolve an problem effectively.

Why should we conceal who we are

 

Tattoo concealer is a relatively new product on the market but is growing fast with a wide range of brands existing from those made by professional makeup artists to those sponsored by famous tattoo artists (Kat Von D). Tattoo concealer is a thicker type of make-up created for the sole purpose of covering up tattoos although some brands also promote the use of it to hide scars and skin pigmentations/defects. The ease in which it can be applied and removed (most last for about 24 hours) makes it popular for those who either cannot afford or who do not want to go through the process of permanent tattoo removal.

A darker interpretation of the popularity of this product is that although more of the population are tattooed, their visibility in certain circumstances or occasions is still considered taboo.  Most of the brands selling tattoo concealer boast of the ability to ‘cover up’ for ‘weddings, job interviews or smart events’. The insinuation or assumption that tattoos are inappropriate for these situations perpetuates the traditional stereotypes associated with tattooed individuals; that they are low class, unprofessional or ,in the case of women, for ‘slags’.

 

I do understand the desire to hide tattoos in some occasions, a common occasion being a bride wishing to hide them for her wedding. I myself did not cover mine  at my own wedding and recently it has become a fashion to incorporate tattoos into the theme of the wedding; the most published one being a couple whose bride had a large peacock back piece so they used this as inspiration for the wedding.  However, with the concealer market sales increased by 32% in the last year, brides cannot be the only consumers of this product.

 

According to research carried out by the Pew Research centres in the USA in 2013, 17% of those with tattoos regret them with 11% of these people either looking to get them removed or have already done so. In the UK figures are similar, with the Huffington Post reporting earlier this year that four out of ten people with tattoos regret then and just under a quarter of these individuals want them removed. Some link these figures to the rise of tattoos as fashion accessories promoted through the ‘celebrity tattoo’. In situations such as this having a cheap, affordable alternative to tattoo removal can be a great relief, particularly if the tattoo is small or in an obvious place such as on the hands (in the fashion of Rhianna) or the face (such as Kat Von D).

 

Tattoo concealer can clearly be used for different reasons but I disagree with the assumption made by the marketing teams of this product that tattoos should be hidden in certain circumstances. Brands such as Tattoo secret, veil Cover cream, tattoo camo and Kat Von D Lock-it tattoo concealer, to name a few, all to some extent promote the assumption that there is certain occasions where tattoos are inappropriate. This conservative stance is what allows some employers to insist tattoos be covered as they are deemed ‘unprofessional’. The wording of the marketing promotes old, outdated ideas of tattoos that have been getting broken down as new generations accept tattoos as an everyday part of life. Younger generations are more likely to be tattooed and to view them as art or an expression of themselves rather than as the mark of a criminal or an outsider from society. Young professionals are now adorned with tattoos ranging from traditional Japanese art work, watercolour designs, anime and old school American style.

 

One brand of concealer ‘Tattoo Secret’ boasts of its reviews in the Daily Mail, Sunday Times and The Express. All of these newspapers are known to hold conservative views around tattoos, often describing someone as ‘tattooed’ in order to conjure negative images of that individual. These opinions should not be forced upon a new generation but instead should be allowed to progress to become more acceptable. Tattoo culture has come a long way from what it was with professional salons existing now whose highest concern is with hygiene and high quality work.

It is good that alternative measures from tattoo removal exist and the option to hide tattoos in some circumstances can be a blessing but the decisions as to when they are hidden or shown should be a personal preference and not dictated, however subtly, when they are appropriate or not. The more we see tattoos, the more normal they become and perhaps there will eventually be no circumstances where they are considered inappropriate.

 

Steak and BJ day

March 14th is unofficially known as Valentines day for men aka Steak and blowjob day. Every year this ‘holiday’ causes an extreme divide.

Is this a harmless day poking fun at the idea that valentines day is for women or is this a sexist, misogynistic and stupid ‘holiday’?

The idea is simple. Men do not want flowers, teddies and chocolates, they want steak and blowjobs.

Yet this assumption that women should ‘service’ their men in return for having been treated on valentines day is the one that sparks the most outrage. The outdated concept of men requiring sexual favours from their women and it being expected of them on a particular day is why its decried as sexist.

Yet, most people agree that men are the ones expected to treat the women on valentines day, isn’t this also sexist?

Either way, this day attracts more attention every year and doesn’t look like it’s going to die down any time soon.

Disney: Role models for a new generation

Disney is known for its princess films. Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping beauty etc. All filled with songs, animals,  princes, villans and of course a princess who needs saving. Yet recently these stereotypes in disney films have changed, for the better.

Tangled, an animated film, focuses on Rapunzel, a curious princess who throughout the adventure finds out who she is and saves the ‘prince’. Yes the typical love story is there but the story is more about Rapunzel gaining independence and finding her family rather than just about her finding her prince.

This evolution is taken even further in ‘Frozen’, a story based on the ice queen. This story is about sisterly love and reinforces the idea that women don’t need men to love them. True love can exist between families and women can be the heroine instead of the damsel in distress.

It may seem like a trivial thing but having these films gives young girls a different outlook on their role in life. No longer are women hopeless and need men to survive: instead family bonds can see them through and they can fend for themselves. I personally like this new development and hope it continues, disney princesses are always a part of a young girls childhood, let’s give them strong characters to pretend to be rather than simple damsels I distress. Hopefully these girls can grow up to be strong independent women.

History of Tattoos

dissertation extract.

 

 

In order to understand tattoos place in current society it is essential to know the history of the tattoo in Europe and America. The origins and associations of the tattoo over the years have had a huge impact on the modern idea of a tattoo as its forms and wearers have altered dramatically over the years and have shaped the modern tattoo and the modern stereotypes of tattooed individuals. Originally tattoos were used by small tribes for numerous reasons including initiation rituals, exchange and identity; these tattoos were basic lines and pictures that created intricate designs. When the Greeks first came in contact with these tribes they considered them primitive designs associated with primitive individuals, however, they were adopted by the Greeks as a way to mark exiles and criminals (Fisher, 2002). The marks were considered to represent those who are outside accepted society and started the long standing association between tattoos and ‘outsiders’. The Romans adopted this technique often marking criminals with their crime as they felt that this visible marking would ensure that the criminals could never escape their deed and that society would know what the individual had done (Gustafson, 2000). This practice went out of fashion over the years and tattooing remained a very rare practice up until its rediscovery by Captain Cook in 1769. He discovered Tahiti with the British navy and brought back the practice of tattooing to Europe when his crew and he started to be tattooed by natives in 1784 reintroducing the practice of tattoos into wider society. Cook was also the first westerner to use the Tahiti word ta-tu or tatua and introduced the word to Europe, before this tattoos were known as pricking. The mixing of western and native ideas created new designs that mixed the geometric native designs with western images such as boats and guns (DeMello, 2000:45). After this reintroduction tattoo shops opened in both America and Europe and tattoos became a part of society, particularly amongst the working class and sailors. It was in fact sailors, and later people in carnivals, that helped the transition of tattoos from primitive to something exotic and adventurous (DeMello, 2000:49).

                        From this reintroduction tattoos have remained within western society until modern day but have went through many changes. Tattooing was not a socially acceptable act until the late 1800’s when it became fashionable with the middle and upper class. Up until this time tattoos were purely adopted by sailors, military men and the working class and were rudimentary designs poorly done. Tattoos became more popular with the middle and upper classes at this time for two main reasons; the introduction of Japanese style tattoos and the invention of the electric tattoo machine by Sam O’Reilly in roughly 1892 (Fisher, 2002). The Japanese style was popular among the higher classes as it embodied a sense of worldliness and sophistication and was used as a way to impress others in society. A distinct class divide still existed in the imagery and use of tattoos. The lower classes used tattoos as a means to express themselves to society while the upper classes used tattoos as a means to impress others. This class divide has prevailed through time and still exists today to some extent, with lower class tattoos typically being of poorer quality due to money restraints as cheaper tattoos are of a lower quality. These tattoos are looked down upon while upper class tattoos are of better quality and often flaunted by the wearer because these people can afford to pay for the higher quality and wish to show it off. The invention of the electric tattoo machine also contributed greatly to the growing popularity of tattoos in all classes. This machine meant tattoos were less painful and required less skill in the part of the tattooist so more tattoo shops opened up. New images and styles were easily achieved and led to the growth of the tattoo industry. Sam O’Reilly also introduced flash sheets to the tattooing word. These are sheets of basic tattoo designs, such as a red rose, that most if not all, tattoo shops have on display. These tattoos are mass-produced and are still commonly associated with the working class (Fisher, 2002). The growing popularity of tattoos also led to a growing culture divide in terms of quality and design.

            From the early 1800s right through till the early 1900s heavily tattooed men and women entered circuses and travelling shows as ‘freak’ attractions (DeMello, 2000:56). These tattooed individuals were in competition with each other and they had to have larger numbers of tattoos to remain in employment. By 1932 there were roughly three hundred completely tattooed individuals in travelling shows. This created a strong association between tattoos and deviant behaviour as the tattooed individuals were considered ‘outsiders’ and ‘freaks’, an echo of the ideas from the Romans and Greeks. Often the tattooed individual would claim to have been held captive by natives and forcibly tattooed; this added a level of danger and exoticism to the whole experience of seeing a tattooed individual. When women first entered the tattoo scene they completely upstaged their male counterparts. Due to the captive stories the women were considered feminine and refined despite their tattoos because they had not chosen to be tattooed but forced. Overt sexual overtones were laced through their stories and in order to show their tattoos they had to wear very little clothes which created a very strong link between sexuality and tattoos. This sexual image of women clashed with the traditional image of chaste, demure women, this made tattooed women more exotic but it created an association between tattoos and sexuality with women. These tattooed women’s acts were also known commonly as a ‘freak show with a peep show’ (Mifflin, 1997). This idea of women and tattoos exist still today with many tattooed women being considered sexually promiscuous. Eventually these travelling shows died out and the novelty of seeing a tattooed individual wore off, however the connection between tattoos and social outsiders continued in society’s collective image of tattoos.

Although tattoos worn by carnival people were highly socially unacceptable, tattoos linked to the military in the years between World War one and two were highly regarded due to the association with Uncle Sam and the fighting boys in America. This strong association between the military and tattoos was a continuation from their use during the civil war. Any individual with a tattoo was assumed to serve in the military and strongly influenced society’s idea on tattoos and tattooed individuals. This period strongly influenced the design and placement of tattoos for the future (DeMello, 2000:63). However, from the 1950’s onwards tattoos popularity went downhill. Military tattoos were rejected by society as they were a reminder of the damage caused by the wars and many ex-servicemen found it difficult to get employment due to their tattoos. It is at this time that gang tattoos also came into the public eye and cemented the negative image of them. This is when being tattooed restricted an individual’s employment and social mobility as many associated them with gangs or ex-military, both groups which were perceived as unwanted (Govenar, 2000). In many cities in America tattooing was banned and the biker community adopted them as a way to openly rebel creating a new style of tattoo revolving around images such as skulls and motorbikes. During this period there were a few women with tattoos; those who did were either part of the biker gang or of the sexual revolution. These women were often ridiculed by wider society and helped to create the masculine image of tattooed women as either being gay or tough. Steward (1990) famously said in his book that women with tattoos were ‘lank-haired scrags with ruined landscape faces and sagging hose and run-over heels’. This was a common perception of women with tattoos in this time. Tattoos eventually became popular again in the 1970s and have grown in popularity since for a number of reasons including celebrities and TV programmes centred on tattoo shops. However, the past opinions of tattoos still echo in the minds of people today and affect the stereotypes and image of tattoos. The strong stigma attached to tattoos still prevails, particularly towards women with tattoos.

 

Tattoos: A way to show who we are

Based on my previous posts and dissertation its easy to see that I enjoy exploring the opinions towards women and tattoos. Today however, I read an article about why women get tattooed. They each cited various reasons but all of them knew that they went against social convention by having them, particularly the larger tattoos.

These stories, especially those from the older generation who paved the way, make me appreciate how lucky I am. I have rarely faced any problems due to my tattoos and piercings. I have 9 tattoos, two of which are quite big and my lip pierced twice. People tend to ask what my tattoos mean or if they hurt. I do not have to cover them up in work nor have they ever affected my ability to do my job well.

People do stare sometimes but even if people do not like them they tend to keep these opinions to themselves. I have found that people do tend to assume certain things about me; that I like certain music, clothes or clubs. It’s never been suggested that I’m easy to get into bed but then I am married

Tattoos are very personal; they represent my personality and experiences. Other use their clothes or hair to express themselves. I use my skin. I make the decision to mark myself permantly because the expeeirnces I have mark me the same and I like to have a pyshical representation of this.

Reading other peoples reasons for getting  tattooed interest me and inspires me. These are strong women who take control of theirselves and their bodies. One women decribes ttattoing as a way of owning her body and her expeiences. I don’t think this is something to discriminate against but to embrace. Hopefully in the future tattooed omen wont be as controversial as they are now.

 

Dissertation extract: women and tattoos

So it was requested that I provide more information from my dissertation on women, tattoos and stereotypes. Here is an extract concluding the findings from my interviews.

Analysis of Interviews

            During the interviews several important topics reoccurred and by analysing the interviews it became apparent that two topics in particular seem to have an impact on the reactions and perceptions of women and tattoos; ideas of masculinity and femininity and stereotypes.

Masculinity/Femininity

During the interview process the traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity were brought up by the interviewer in relation to answers given in the questionnaire. This important and central theme shapes all participants views and opinions towards the wearer of the tattoo. Several important points arose from the questionnaires, and were brought up again in the interviews, concerning masculinity and femininity and their link to tattoos, in particular, size, placement and design of the tattoo both affected and were influenced by ideas of masculinity and femininity. ‘Feminine’ tattoos were seen to be small, easily hidden and a feminine design, such as butterflies or flowers. One participant specifically mentioned Peaches Geldof daisy chain tattoo, which although is large can be hidden and is very feminine. Male and female, tattooed and non-tattooed participants felt that these were socially acceptable tattoos for a woman to have as they were seen to increase beauty and femininity, ideas which reflect those in Atkinson’s 2002 study. Male tattoos, however, were often described as large, highly visible and often violent or tribal design. A strong link between tattoos and masculinity was described by most participants, saying that these types of tattoos are seen on ‘hard’ men. These types of men are described as very built, often violent and either in the army or involved in criminal activity.

‘You see a man with a tattoo and it instantly makes him seem more masculine. It’s partly to do with the style of the tattoo but I think subconsciously it’s just the association between having a tattoo and being quite manly from the time when it was sailors and military men that had them.’

This connection between masculinity and tattoos has a direct impact on the perception of women with tattoos who are considered to be not traditionally feminine. When any of the characteristics associated with a male tattoo was applied to a female tattoo the reaction was very noticeable. All but one participant expressed great dislike for at least one style of tattoo on women. When discussing women and tattoos two particular placements of tattoos on proved less popular than others, the first of which was a chest piece which is a large tattoo covering the whole chest. James and Claire, both tattooed, said that these tattoos on women are ‘quite masculine’ and ‘don’t look that nice’ despite the fact that they both express like for large tattoos on women. Claire stated that ‘When I was young guys with chest pieces were always hard and seen as a bad element’ which may explain to some degree why she thinks these tattoos are masculine, her early experiences shaped her perceptions on the type of person who has this tattoo and that it is a style she links closely to ideas of masculinity, hence why her reaction to women with this tattoo is so negative. She sees chest pieces as a male tattoo and when a female has one she oversteps a boundary into masculine territory. The second type of tattoo was a sleeve, which is a tattoo that covers the whole arm.  Dan, a non-tattooed participant, expressed strong dislike for this style of tattoo describing it as ‘insightful and unneeded’ on anyone, but particularly on women (see appendix 10). The results found here are similar to that of Hawkes, Sean and Thorne in their study where highly visible tattoos on women were reported to be ‘ugly’ and ‘masculine’. In both of these cases it is important to note that these tattoos are highly visible and are more commonly seen on men than women. This may explain the negative reactions because socially these types of tattoos are seen as being linked to masculinity and because they are highly visible and unusual, people, both tattooed and non-tattooed, apply their preconceived ideas about the tattoo on to the individual. However, it may also be linked to the idea that these women with ‘masculine’ tattoos are transgressing the acceptable behaviour for their sex so the negative reactions are a way to keep people in their socially acceptable roles. As Rosenfield’s study discovered, the further an individual deviates from their gender boundaries, the more severe the societal reaction to the individual. Even those women which were tattooed placed boundaries on what types of tattoos were acceptable for women to have and when another woman transgressed this boundary the tattooed participant reacted the same as a non-tattooed participant. Claire acknowledged this in her interview stating that she thought that heavily tattooed women would receive more negative reactions because they are ‘controversial’.

Jennifer discussed in her interview the extreme reactions that her more heavily tattooed female friends receive on a day to day basis, giving some insight into the possible reasons for these reactions.  She explains that often the most severe reactions come from males and are aimed towards her most heavily tattooed female friend who has a sleeve and many other highly visible tattoos. These reactions usually involve shouting insults such as ‘dyke’ and when on nights out being called a ‘slut’ because of her revealing clothes in order to show her tattoos. This example illustrates a clear link between tattoos and women’s sexuality in the eyes of society as well as reinforcing the idea that tattoos are masculine, these findings echo that of Swami and Furnham’s study, where women who were tattooed were allocated male characteristics such as being heavy drinkers and sexually promiscuous. The idea that being heavily tattooed also makes her masculine is reinforced through the use of the word ‘dyke’. This insinuates again that to be heavily tattooed the woman must have masculine traits and therefore be attracted to other women. It also links back to the women’s movement where tattoos were claimed by certain subcultures of the gay community to illustrate their individuality. These insults and taunts are linked to sexuality, which echoes the findings of the 1998 study by Kunkel et al, where it was illustrated that women’s behaviour is censured through these negative reactions and that women’s behaviour is often interpreted through their potential sexual attractiveness. This anecdote illustrates that by being tattooed the woman is considered less feminine so is assigned these masculine traits as she is considered to be overstepping her gender boundaries and is reprimanded for this behaviour through insults and taunts.

 

 

           

 

 

 

Stereotypes

            Stereotypes was a topic which according to the questionnaire results would not affect people’s perceptions of tattoos but during the interviews it became apparent that underlying stereotypes, both old and new, have a huge effect on the perception of women and tattoos. The eldest participant, Karen, expressed a strong link between tattooed men and the armed forces or criminals when discussing her link between masculinity and tattoos. It was common; particularly during world war one and two, for men in the armed forces to be tattooed and it was around this that Karen grew up and so her youngest experience of tattoos would have been this which explains both her strong link between men and tattoos and her stereotype of tattooed men being in the armed forces. The idea of criminals being tattoos is a stereotype that has been in existence for a long time and is perpetuated through the media and images of gangs, particularly in America. Tattooed participants expressed that their worst reactions were often from older generations who hold these ideas about who should have a tattoo as well as having more traditional views about women’s behaviour. In the minds of the older generations only men should be tattooed therefore when they see a woman now with tattoos their reaction is negative and often sexist according to the experiences of my female participants. In this case traditional stereotypes of both tattoos and women’s behaviour clash and account for the bad image tattooed women have in the older generations.

            However, throughout my interviews it became apparent that it is not just non-tattooed individuals that hold stereotypes and it is no longer just the traditional stereotypes that exist. Jennifer stated that to her tattoos make someone immediately seem cool, more approachable and are about expressing who you are. To some tattooed individuals this is the case, studies such as Kosut (2000) explore the link between identity and tattoos, however to assume that this is the case for all those who are tattooed is to generalise. The same can be said about saying that tattooed people must be cool and approachable, for many it is the opposite. Jennifer is only considering the reason why she got tattooed and applying to them all those with tattoos and although this does no direct harm it narrows societies understanding as to the reasons behind being tattooed.  Although Jennifer states that this is only in her opinion it is to an extent a stereotype she holds about those with tattoos, although it is a positive it is a stereotype nonetheless.

            One participant, James, had a very different opinion to my other participants when it came to stereotypes. He claimed he had no stereotypes in his questionnaire but throughout the interview he associated certain styles or placement of a tattoo with a particular group of people.  He states that ‘neds’ get their name on their neck or forearm while ‘mums’ get something small like Winnie the Pooh or stars. He says himself that when he sees these tattoos on someone he automatically labels them into a category that he associates with this type of tattoo.  So although he holds no generic stereotypes of tattooed people he divides those who are tattooed into sub-categories depending on their tattoo and placement. This can said to be similar to the origins of tattoos where people had particular designs on them that identify them with a particular tribe. In this case, tattoos are a way to show allegiance and express identity as explored by Kosut (2000).

James only once refers particularly to women with tattoos when discussing tattoos on the lower back. This is commonly known as a ‘tramp stamp’ and he admits that this is what he thinks when he sees this type of tattoo on a woman despite that fact that earlier he stated that he likes tattoos on women. This illustrates that although typical stereotypes of criminals, bikers and army have mostly died out; new stereotypes based around that tattoo design have emerged due to the growing popularity and different groups of people that now get tattooed.

            It is important to note that the one type of tattoo always associated with women, a design on the lower back, is referred to as a ‘tramp stamp’ by both tattooed and non-tattooed. The name itself has negative connotations insinuating that because the woman is tattooed on her lower back she must be sexually promiscuous. It is very apparent from these this stereotype and comments made to my female participants as discussed in the previous section, that women and tattoos seem to have an underlying sexuality about them, the woman is either considered gay, as mentioned earlier, or she is expected to be sexually promiscuous. This association between sexuality and women with tattoos may have its roots in tattooed women who travelled with the circus as side shows. These acts were known as a ‘freak show with a peep show’ because in order to show their tattoos the women had to wear very little clothes. The idea created by this has left a stereotype or link between tattooed women and sex in society. All of these stereotypes, old and new, have a negative impact on all tattooed individuals but seem to judge women harsher and in a different way. Men are considered dangerous or linked to the army, whilst women’s judgements lay close to her sexuality. These stereotypes are closely related to what behaviour is considered acceptable for each sex and the negative reactions women receive through negative stereotypes is society punishing them for acting in a way which is considered out with their gender norms.