Heavily Tattooed Women
From LoveToKnow Tattoos
Heavily tattooed women are becoming much more prevalent in society than they used to be. Some onlookers think they're sexy; some think they were better looking before the tattoos. One thing is for sure, though: no matter the motive behind the tattoos, these women have guts.
The History and the Culture
In some cultures, being heavily tattooed is just a part of life. A story from May 16, 2006, in National Geographic showed how heavy tattoos can tell an amazing story. Archaelogists in Peru uncovered a mummy of a Moche elite young woman covered in tattoos.
Today, heavy tattoos on women are still commonplace among certain cultures. cultures, for example, tend to feature women with heavy tattoos. Also, who could forget the beautiful and intricate henna artwork worn by many Middle Eastern brides?
While heavy tattoos on women have their place in some cultures and they're not as taboo as they were before, mainstream society still doesn't welcome heavily tattooed women with completely open arms. A woman with multiple, prominent tattoos will still most likely face curiosities and strong opinions from others.
Why So Many Tattoos?
What's the reason behind so many tattoos, a curious observer may wonder.
Some women, just like some men, may want to embark on a lifetime of body art simply to tell their story. Some people write, some people draw, some people perform to show who they are and what they've gone through over the course of their lives. Others become the masterpieces that tell their stories and state their beliefs.
Other women may just be addicted to getting tattoos, as a large number of those who get tattoos claim to be. They could just enjoy the thrill of choosing something new to add to the menagerie on their bodies. Still, it is the masterpiece of their lifetime, even if they are not choosing deeply symbolic images for their skin.
Though the stigma that used to go along with tattoos—especially tattoos on women—has waned, some still use them as a form of rebellion or as a way to embrace a counterculture.
So a few of the reasons to get heavily tattooed:
- Tell your own story
- State your beliefs
- Rebellion
- Thrill/Addiction
Some Like Them…Some Don't
Though heavily tattooed females have more of a place in mainstream society, they seem to evoke strong opinions from others. Of course there are two sides to this coin—there are those who love women covered in body art, and those who are appalled. In many cases, those opinions won't be kept secret!
On a Answers page, one reader asked how men felt about heavily tattooed females. Some were completely turned off and/or intimidated. Others said that they loved tattoos on women. Still others said tattoos weren't a factor either way—it's the person who matters.
Famous Heavily Tattooed Women
Kat Von D
Famous tattoo artist Kat Von D, as you may expect, has tattoos all over her body. She's best known for her work on television shows Miami Ink and LA Ink but she had quite the following long before the show went on the air. Passionate about her work, she has tattoos from the neck down.
Bif Naked
Defiant musician Bif Naked doesn’t shy away from the tattoo parlor. In her search for spirituality, Bif's opted for several tattoos on her arms and torso. Her first tattoo was an Egyptian eye at the age of sixteen. Since then, she's been committed to the art.
Angelina Jolie
Actress Angelina Jolie, according to Waleg, is heavily tattooed, with the following designs:
- The letter H
- “A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages” (Tennessee Williams)
- Two tribal designs
- A prayer for Maddox, which covers up another tattoo ("death" in Chinese/Japanese)
- "Know your rights"
- "Strength of will" in Arabic, covering up another tattoo
- The number thirteen in Roman numerals
- A dragon covered up by a tilted Latin cross
- An Asian tiger
- "What nourishes me also destroys me" in Latin
- She previously had a tattoo of a window, but it is covered now
Less Known Tattooed Women
A visit to Tao of Tattoos' interview section will lead you to all types of heavily tattooed women—from models to regular girls. The thing all of these women have in common is the intricate design of their body art.
Learn More
Comments
I myself am a heavily tattooed woman and the decision to be so was not taken lightly. I realised the full implications of my tattoos (esecially my sleeves)on the way people perceive me and my employment prospects, and decided that it was better to be myself than spend my life worrying about what other people think about me!
-- Contributed by: EmmaKatherine, that is defintaly the reality isn't it? It's a big decision that should never be taken lightly. as it will affect your body and image perception for your whole life! Thanks for the comments!
-- Contributed by: Jodie MichalakThere is a stigma if you have a lot of tattoos; I have felt it at times, maybe a little more paranoia on my part, but it can affect employment, how employers perceive depending on the industry you search, which affects income, etc.; a lot of people get tattooed heavily to deal with emotional pain, some for thrills and the 'high', but eventually you settle and have to adjust to life with a different body.
-- Contributed by: Katherine
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