Tattoos - A Train of Thought

A question I have long asked myself is ‘do I need tattoos to be considered alternative?’ Or I’ll tell myself I don’t have enough tattoos to be seen as ‘noticeably’ alternative.

Tattoos have a long history rooted in self expression. Some opt for meaningful tattoos with familial ties, while others see their body as just another canvas to doodle on. There is no single way a person can approach tattoos, or single style they are limited to. Synonymously, this can be said for the alternative community. Creativity feels intertwined in the decision to modify your body with a permanent piece of art.

The point can be argued that many of us have them to go against societal norms, but this appears too simple of an answer. Standing out cannot be the sole reason people have tattoos, even my own are mostly covered due to the placement and none of mine have any sentimentality.

Could it even be as simple as an aesthetic choice? Body modification and the alternative community have been hand in hand for years. It wasn’t until the 1980s that tattoos were considered ‘tolerable’ and came into the mainstream.

But… I know deep down why I started getting tattoos - to feel empowered.

I come from a family that has a strong need to control the narrative, even at the expense of someone’s mental health. If you do not fit the mould, you are disrupting the peace. Being told for years that I was a mouthy child versus looking back and knowing I was expressing my emotional needs, makes you feel weak. Powerless even. So is it any wonder I became a stereotypical rebel? Being told big tattoos aren’t ‘attractive’ and they don’t ’suit girls’ will play on your mind. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t gotten as many tattoos as I would like. Fundamentally, I know that my small tattoos started as an act of ownership of bodily autonomy, which slowly turned into bigger tattoos and dressing in darker clothes. A silent, but evident statement that I will not be controlled.

To summarise: fuck it get the tattoo, therapy is expensive. And who gives a fuck if people think you don’t look alternative? Probably no one, I’m arguing with the voices in my head lol.