Times Have Changed

I noticed evidence of a major cultural shift earlier this week when I was invited to have drinks with some colleagues.

I don't visit bars frequently, so when I do go out, I tend to notice details about the room, the staff, and the other patrons.

This time I noticed how popular tattoos have become with women. If you see a young lady whose outfit shows some skin, that skin probably has a tattoo on it. 

I saw tattoos on necks, shoulders, arms, and backs. Some were small, and some covered a large area.

Back in the 1980's when I went out to clubs to see live music with friends, we never encountered women with tattoos. Tattoos were worn by men, and not even by all men.

Ink was a masculine badge of honor for guys who had endured tough situations - serving in the armed forces, spending time in jail or in a counterculture like motorcycle gangs. Most women never would have considered getting a tattoo.

And yet, in 2015, it's unusual to find a young woman who doesn't have ink on her body.

When did we make that leap? When did tattoos become a desirable fashion accessory for professional women, housewives, and ladies with day jobs? When did average, unremarkable people convince themselves that skin ink would make them seem more interesting or alluring?

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South 

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