The History and Social Impact of Tattoos
Origins, Cultural Uses and Facts About Tattooing
Oct 7, 2008
The Tattoo originated over 5000 years ago, though there are few records of when they first became popularised as a way of making signs and symbols permanently inscribed on the body. The word Tattoo comes from the Polynesian word ‘Ta’, which means to strike something, and the Tahitian word ‘Tatau’ which means to make a mark.
Tribes and cultures all over the world use tattooing as a way to mark out individuality. Gang members use tattoos to delineate allegiance, and the tattoo is increasingly becoming more socially acceptable as people become more open to the idea of using permanent ink to scar the skin in individual ways.
Tattoos are created by inserting coloured ink or a staining substance under the surface of the skin, drawing the design beneath the epidermis. This practice results in the skin healing and holding the colour in place permanently. While tattoos can fade somewhat over time, they remain an effective way of decorating the skin permanently.
The Effective Removal of Tattoos
There are a huge number of tattoo removal methods publicised all over the web. Treatments range from laser removal, which has scientific backing as the only guaranteed way of breaking down the ink, right through to topical creams and abrasive scrubs which are designed to fade or remove the tattoo. However, no method other than cosmetic laser treatment has received medical backing as a safe and permanent way of removing the tattoo.
The Negative Associations of Tattoos
Until recently, tattoos were associated with criminals or the naval community, and it has taken many years for these negative associations to fade. In Japan, tattoos are associated with the Yakuza, and this causes apprehension in Japanese citizens, to the point where gyms and swimming pools actually ban people with large or offensive tattoos from using the facilities.
Tattoos are used within prison communities to indicate allegiance to a certain gang or affiliation to an organisation. A tear drop tattoo can symbolise murder, and cobwebs on the elbow or elsewhere can demonstrate crimes committed. Racial or political views are expressed pictorially, making it easier for inmates to demonstrate some sense of gang allegiance, or strive for a semblance of individuality in an otherwise regimented environment.
Further negativity has come from the practice of forcibly tattooing people. Jewish people resident in concentration camps were forced to be branded with identification numbers during the Holocaust.
Further Facts About Tattoos
Tattoos can occur naturally, if the skin has an open wound or cut that subsequently gets a staining substance in it. Ash and coal dust are two examples of materials which will stain if the wound is not tended to quickly enough prior to the skin healing.
Tattoos can be used for conveying useful information, for example the blood group of the bearer, or certain allergies. In this way, in an emergency situation, a medical team can learn of their patient and instantly know critical information relevant to the situation.
Cosmetic tattooing is now becoming more popular, and people can select to have their eyebrows, lips or other features enhanced through the use of permanent make-up. Eye liner, lip liner and freckles or moles can all be simulated through careful tattooing. Tattoos are now available with ink that gradually fades over time, making this a more viable practice for those people concerned about committing to a life-long cosmetic alteration.
Sources:
DeMello, M. Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community Duke University Press, 2000
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