All That and Tat-too

Back in 2012. A Harris Poll concluded that the application of tattoos in the United States is growing very rapidly. The February 12, 2012 Harris Interactive reported: “Currently one in five U.S. adults has at least one tattoo (21%) which is up from the 16% and 14% who reported having a tattoo when this question was asked in 2003 and 2008, respectively. Tattoos seem to be most prevalent in the West-26% of adults in that region report having at least one-compared to fewer in the East (21%), Midwest (21%) and South (18%). Adults aged 30-39 are most likely to have a tattoo (38%) compared to both those younger (30% of those 25-29 and 22% of those 18-24) and older (27% of those 40-49, 11% of those 50-64 and just 5% of those 65 and older). Women are slightly more likely than men, for the first time since this question was first asked, to have a tattoo (now 23% versus 19%).

“Among those with a tattoo, most have never regretted getting a tattoo (86%) and three in ten say it makes them feel more sexy (30%). One-quarter say having a tattoo makes them feel rebellious (25%), 21% say both it makes them feel attractive or strong, 16% say it makes them feel spiritual and fewer say it makes them feel more healthy (9%), intelligent (8%) or athletic (5%).” Visions of elderly folks years from sporting bluing and wrinkles tats float in the ether, and tattoo removal is a very rapidly growing business all across the United States. But lest we think this is a passing phase, the “tamp stamp” or gang affiliation inked applique moniker is sliding away as tats go mainstream.

Okay, a swastika or a bloodied knife, a naked woman (or man) or a “tear of fatal conquest” or the layman’s impression of the tattooed man or lady might get “you’ll never get a job” here stares from senior management and HR, but even rather extensive tats are finding acceptance in some pretty traditional places. One bastion where many did not expect to find prominent tats is the Miss America Pageant, in which, I am proud to admit, my daughter-in-law (then Miss District of Columbia, today a medical doctor in residence in a prominent Los Angeles hospital) competed a couple of years ago.

The contestant with the prominent tats is Miss Kansas, 22-year-old Theresa Vail, an accomplished archer, a sergeant in the National Guard with aspirations to be a military dentist. On one side of her body, she carries a military medial insignia, and on the other, the inspirational “Serenity Prayer” (pictured above). Her platform: “empowering women, overcoming stereotypes and breaking barriers.” But she is the first pageant contestant with visible tattoos… all with the complete support of the pageant administrators. 

Historically, tats have carried the suggestion of rebellion, non-conformity, but with so many people getting them, is this stereotype still justified? “This idea connecting tattoos with rebelliousness is not new, however, it may be waning. In 2008 among all adults (whether or not they had a tattoo) almost three in ten said that people with tattoos are more likely to do something most people consider deviant (29%) while 2% said people with tattoos were less likely to do something deviant and 69% said it made no difference.

“Today, the number of people who say adults with tattoos are more likely to do something most people consider deviant has dropped to 24%, and the number of people who say it makes no difference has gone up, to 74%.” Harris Interactive.

Tattooing (along with piercing and ritual scarring) is an ancient art form, with deep symbolic tribal roots: “Some of the earliest tattooing needles date from the Upper Paleolithic period (10,000 BCE to 38,000 BCE)… Found at several archaeological digs around Europe, the sharpened bone needles pierced the skin easily and the pigment came from dipping the needle into holes in a disc of red ochre mixed with clay.

“Needles made of fish and turtle bones have been excavated on American Indian land from The Plains Cree to the Mohave and the Yuma, of Arizona share similar patterns tattooed on the chins of the women, vertical stripes from one corner of the mouth to the other and varying in thickness according to the shape of the individuals face. It is also recorded that long thorns and splinters of rock, possibly flint, were used…. The ancient Egyptians tattooed the courtiers and concubines to the Pharos. Many mummies have been unwrapped to reveal elaborate patterns of dots and stripes around the waist, buttocks, legs and back. Needles of copper or bone and thorns would have been used to make these marks.

“The sixth century Roman physician, Aetius, wrote ‘…prick the design with pointed needles until blood is drawn, then rub in the ink…’ The Latin word stigma is defined by Webster as Latin and Greek in origin meaning a ‘tattoo mark, a prick with a pointed instrument, a mark of disgrace or reproach.’” BritishInkdc.com. Do you have a tat? What crosses your mind when you see someone who does? Does it matter what the tat is? Do you feel any link to ancient tribalism when see or get a tattoo? Why do you think this trend has become so popular in the United States in recent years?

I’m Peter Dekom, and the desire to be unique and different sometimes generates a blending in that might not have been expected.