| Tattoo artists make a permanent mark on your | | | | motorcyclists, and rock 'n roll band members. |
| skin by inserting ink in between the dermis and | | | | Followers and members of these groups are |
| the epidermis. In contemporary times a tattoo is | | | | stereotypically connected with violence, drugs and |
| commonly sought out for decorative purposes. | | | | lewd behavior. |
| While we tend to think of tattooing as a modern | | | | However, in the last decade a shift in public |
| phenomenon, the tattoo has existed since | | | | opinion regarding a tattoo has taken place. |
| prehistoric times. In the last 150 years, a number | | | | Tattoos now appear on professionals, parents, |
| of human remains marked with a tattoo have | | | | and affluent teenagers. |
| been discovered. | | | | Some sociologists see the rise (and subsequent |
| A 5000 year old Siberian was discovered in the | | | | acceptance) of the tattoo as part of a pattern of |
| Alps in 1991 and the body had 57 tattoos. In the | | | | rebellious behavior. In the 1960s, baby boomers |
| late 19th century the mummified body of an | | | | grew their hair out long. Once that became |
| Egyptian priestess was discovered by | | | | passé in the 1980s and 1990s, piercings |
| archaeologists who determined that she likely lived | | | | became more common. Sociologists suggest that |
| around 2000 BC. They found she had been | | | | as adults adopted many of these cosmetic |
| tattooed on her arms, on her legs, and below the | | | | changes, teenagers felt that the last means of |
| belly button. | | | | rebelling involved permanent alteration of the body |
| Also, in Japan scientists found clay figurines | | | | for shock value. Eventually, however, this too |
| painted with markings that look like a tattoo that | | | | gained social acceptance as people became more |
| were more than 3000 years old. It is important to | | | | inured to the sight of a tattoo in the suburbs. |
| note how these discoveries come from all over | | | | In fact, an online survey in 2008 estimated that |
| the world, demonstrating the ubiquity and | | | | 14% of adults in America had a tattoo. 9% of 18 |
| significance of the tattoo in many cultures. | | | | to 24-year-olds had a tattoo, nearly 2% of 25 to |
| In modern times the tattoo has been showcased | | | | 29-year-olds had a tattoo, and 25% of 30 to |
| in 20th century pop culture. Movies such as | | | | 39-year-olds reported having a tattoo. |
| Pirates of the Caribbean featured swaggering | | | | If you want to experiment with ink decoration |
| pirates decorated with more than one tattoo. | | | | but are not ready for permanent body art, try a |
| More recently, on VH1's reality-based TV show | | | | temporary tattoo. They last anywhere from a |
| Rock of Love, one contestant had her | | | | few days to a few weeks and are typically |
| heartthrob's name tattooed on her arm when she | | | | transferred to the skin using water. A vegetable |
| was in a drunken stupor. Unfortunately, she was | | | | die temporary tattoo can look just like a |
| not chosen by rock 'n roll star Brett Michaels and | | | | permanent tattoo. |
| had to endure the shame of having his name | | | | If you decide to get a permanent tattoo, you can |
| permanently tattooed on her body. | | | | look online at designs. Some Internet sites feature |
| These stories illustrate some of the negative | | | | thousands of tattoo designs. In addition, you can |
| connotations society assigned to the tattoo. Since | | | | get one with words that reflects a relationship |
| the 1960s mainstream America associated a | | | | that is spiritual, personal, or emotional. |
| tattoo with counterculture groups such as gangs, | | | | |