Women have long been subject to many stereotypes and taboos, especially when it comes to defining what is feminine.
By embellishing the beauty of her skin, a woman with a tattoo has a unique forum not only for inciting discussion about her femininity but also to express her beliefs and specific memories that helped form the inked designs. In terms of tattooing, it seems many women are challenging gender prejudices one image at a time.
But it isn’t having a tattoo in the first place that makes females face so many stereotypes, it’s the message and idea expressed in the tattoo design.
“The nature of a woman’s tattoo reflects how much she is or isn’t rebelling against a stereotype of women,” says Brooke Wille, who has two tattoos - one on her neck, and another on her arm.
“For example, getting a pair of twin hearts tattooed to your lower back isn’t exactly rebelling against the stereotype of women. But rather, it enhances it, projecting the sexual image they think men want to have of them,” explains Brooke. In this way, typical tattoos can often perpetuate the ideals bout femininity that so many women are taking a strong stand against.
By enhancing and detailing their own individuality, tattooed women baffle certain taboos placed on them by society, and deviant and striking tattoos symbolize a premeditated beauty that has very little to do with their physical appearance.
With tattoos on her feet and forearms, Ashley Dunton is a prime example of a decorated feminine figure. When deciding to get her tattoos, Ashley took many observations into consideration. Her first issue being the way that people would perceive her. “At first, I worried that by covering up my skin, I’d be covering up my womanly beauty,” says Ashley. “Now it’s easy for me to see that tattoos are a very beautiful and artistic thing.”
Ashley’s first tattoos are two reflecting images of sailing ships on each of her feet, one ragged and torn, the other restored. “They’re symbolic of my religious upbringing and a personal reminder to myself,” says Ashley.“I can choose to have peace no matter what my situation is – no matter what sort of waters I’m sailing on.”
Her other tattoos are similarly symbolic, her left arm is painted with tree branches and a heart and her parents’ names inscribed. It’s her visual representation of her roots and identification.
Also, on the inside of her right arm is a vibrantly colored rainbow trout in memory of her late grandfather, a split bamboo rod maker and an enthusiastic fisherman. “Tattoos can be something you want to constantly be reminded of,” says Ashley. “These are the things I never want to leave me.”
Beauty is and was never skin-deep. Vulnerability and strong expression go hand in hand when it comes to tattoos. “It’s is a symbol of your self on the outside, visible to others,” says Ashley. “Put in the right place and significant to you, a tattoo can only add to your beauty.”
