Changing attitudes

Blog week entry

When I was a kid a man with tattoos was the lowest of the low, someone to be avoided at all costs. As to women with tattoos, they were prostitutes or circus freaks, not the sort I should be mixing with. Okay, my family were snobs, not to mention overprotective. Even kids from the council estate were a no, no. That was the '50s. Plus they were influenced by Victorian parents.

Moving on a few years and I was living with, and eventually married to, an ex-sailor. He had tattoos, but that was okay, he was taking me off of their hands and they were grateful. (Well I was in my thirties.) Most service men had tattoos by then(1980s) and my grandparents were out of the picture. I didn't refer to Grandma as the Duchess for nothing.

By the Millennium tattooing was quite common, mainly led by celebrities. Attitudes had changed in general. Models had tasteful butterflies on their shoulders. Band members had their 'sleeves'. Yet even with this general change in attitude, a tattoo on a woman was and is still referred to as a 'tramp stamp' by some.

What are the pros and cons of tattoos? There are obvious health implications. Professional tattoo parlours should follow safe procedures but some people still get infections. This is far more likely with amateur tattooing. Before you consider having a tattoo this is something to bear in mind.

Other things to consider are: is your current partner really the love of your life? Would tattoos be acceptable in your chosen career? What are they going to look like when you are old and wrinkly? Can you take the pain of a lengthy procedure? Can you afford it, especially with large tattoos needing several visits? Guess that childhood stuff really sticks.

That's the cons, what about the pros. Should you die a horrible death it makes you easy to identify. OOPS! Maybe that's the last thing you want, especially if you are criminally inclined.

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