Henna Tattoo Research

- Ainu people (western Asia) also used tattooing to show social status, for example a married women would have a specific tattoo. The Ainu people soon introduced tattoos to Japan who used them for religious rites

Isn’t it baroque to have tattoos on our bodies to display? Not only can a tattoo spruce up our flesh, but it adds personality. Tattoos modify a person's self-esteem and body. David Brooks' article Nonconformity Is Skin Deep explains how wearing a tattoo became a way of self-expression and even a part of the consumerism. Brooks emphasizes on the idea that many acquire tattoos to be part of a social group and to have (as he sarcastically says) something to talk about with others. Brooks compares tattoos to the dark and edgy underbelly of each tattoo-wearers personality. With the growing numbers of tattoo-wearers, it is evident that Brook's opinion on tattoo's as mainstream, unoriginal, and that it is obtained to be part of the social norm,

Apart from the obvious appeal of henna tattoos, I also strangely enjoy being stagnant for hours at a time now. Oddly, the activity that was previously my worst nightmare, also served as an opportunity for me to contemplate about my life. After the paste-covered point of the cone touches my skin, I lose myself. I allow myself to enter a different world for a couple of hours. The world I’ve fabricated is the most serene place on earth. In this realm, I am entirely content and free of stress or responsibility. I allow myself to enjoy the swift movements of the cone and disregard all of the elements that surround me.

It is this sort of strictly prescribed, highly ritualistic decoration that Beckwith and Fisher depict in African ceremonies. “ We have tried to show how body art is relevant to every stage of development, from birth to death”, says Fisher. But while the traditional, often spiritually based versions of bod mod are quickly disappearing among indigenous peoples, the impulses behind personal adornment remain unchanged: attracting a mate, signaling status, declaring allegiance to a group( Lemonick 75). For men, the tattoo is a public identity symbol, and their first is usually on their arm. Women reserve their tattoo for a more intimate audience, and they usually choose their breast. For most, the tattoo is symbolic of their individuality and having withstood a painful and exciting event. Tattooees enjoy being noticed, although they reveal their tattoos selectively ( Davis 471). Anthropologists describe body art or modification as a way of identifying oneself as being a part of a group, a tribe, or a gang: of denoting one’s financial status or marital status: or even as a way of beautifying the body (Grief, Hewitt 368).

Body modifications have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years. But certain stigmas still persists to this contemporary day. One such body modification is the act of inking or marking the skin: Tattooing. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to diverse groups of people. But are the popular perceptions of tattoos out of synch with the true meaning behind them? This essay will explore the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body. It will also explore why tattoos engender

In recent years tattooing and body piercing have become increasingly prevalent in popular culture. These forms of body modification are no longer tools used by criminals and gang member, showing their role in society. These practices are used by many of teenagers and young adults in our society today. In fact many of these practices have been a positive trend in American culture, giving adolescents a way of expressing themselves

The tattoo is a very old form of body modification, but in spite of that there is still a certain rejection towards those who carry them in a visible area of the body, for some it disfigures what has been created in the image and likeness of God while for others associates this with convicts or gang members mainly because they were one of the first groups to use tattoos to differentiate themselves from the rest of society. But also it is true that there is a very limited understanding about this corporal modification that could be one of the reasons why it can not be appreciated as for how it should be. However, modern society reflects the current popularity of tattooing because it has acquired an entirely artistic meaning to a social expression and a way of identity.

This history goes back to as early as the XI Dynasty. In 1891, Amunet, a Priestess of the Goddess Hathor, at Thebes, was discovered. According to Taylor (1998), Amunet is believed to be alive sometime between 2160 BC and 1994 BC. Amunet displays several lines and dots all over her body. The dots and dashes that were found were found in a grouping pattern. This form of tattoo is believed to only belong to women, and usually the women were associated with ritualistic practice. The Egyptians had spread the practice of tattooing throughout the word. By the year 2000 BC, the art of tattooing had stretched out all the way to Southeast Asia (Taylor, 1998).

Moderation is important when discussing tattooing and piercings. When tattooing, piercings, and body modifications began to alter the overall appearance of the individual, the individual would be considered deviant by majority of society. There are many individuals in the United States that have tattoos and piercings, but majority of the people have tattoos that can be concealed or tattoos and piercings that are not gaudy. An article titled, “Tattoos in the Workplace” discussed that in 2012 a poll was conducted that stated that 21% of adults in the United States had tattoos (Osland, 2013). However, nearly 60% of people that have tattoos, have them in areas that are hidden by clothes (Kesling, 2013). Although this study may not cover every single individual in the United States, it does give a

Body modifications, with the focus of tattoos, have existed in our society for centuries and the way in which it is perceived has changed somewhat over the years, yet certain dishonors still remain our modern day. Like most body modifications, tattoos are an often misunderstood form of body modification. Despite the stigmas, tattoos have become a unique object of desire to endless diverse groups of people. But are the popular assumptions of tattoos out of sync with the true meaning behind them? Further explanation and exploration of the history will reveal the social and cultural practices of tattooing and the causal connection between the mind and the tattooed body, in addition to providing answers as to why tattoos stimulate uneasiness

Military is something that anyone would like to join, but when they like to. Also, military help build confidence inside everyone; something it puts confidence down because feel like they not strong enough and good enough to join. Also, when people are being forced to join the military they won’t do as good. Therefore, people need to worry about graduating other than training for the military. In fact, young children shouldn’t be required to join the military, unless they prefer to.

The rising popularity of tattoos and body piercing is more than just the latest fashion craze. This type of body art has been a part of this world for thousands of years. Tattoos and piercings have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments and even forms of punishment (Smithsonian.com). In the later years (1940 – 2000) tattoos and piercings were more common among teenagers and young adults, but now, people of all ages are expressing themselves through body art. To try and understand this rise in the desire to permanently mark ones self, we must first determine the origin and history of tattoos and piercings.

Tattoos used to be a trend among the ancient Egyptians as a type of “ritual” marking. Many women were tattooed among their body with lines and dots. Sharp bone and clay is believed to be the tools used to engrave the woman with these tattoos. During this time period many slaves were also tattooed as a symbol of who they were. "Tattoos of the Egyptian World."

Tattoos today are recognized as totally different than what they were pictured as in the past. “Tattooing is recognized by government agencies as both an art form and a profession and tattoo-related art work is the subject of museum, gallery and educational institution art shows across the United States.” [ (Levins,

The practice of tattooing has been used around the globe for ages, particularly in tribal societies. However, there has been an increase in this type of body art in Western society over the last century, regardless of its savage-like connotations. Tattoos are viewed by many women as a symbol of control over their bodies, which challenges their historically rooted dependence on men. In this paper, I will argue that although tattoos are a symbol of sexual and bodily freedom for many women, men often interpret this symbolism to mean not simply that women have freedom to make decisions about their bodies, but that women will be promiscuous in their decision making. This interpretation affects interactions and perpetuates stereotypes about tattoos on women 's bodies.