Reclaiming Your Identity Through Tattoos

Image Courtesy: Allure

Beauty, albeit superficial, is an imperative part of our world and has an everlasting connection to how we view ourselves and others. Oftentimes, beauty can be portrayed in pretty, perfect, and pristine packaging, but that is hardly ever the case. Body modifications are a form of beauty that has been around for ages, and somehow there are still negative connotations associated with them. One of the most common and more normalized forms of such enhancements is through tattoos. While tattoos can be viewed as silly little ink caricatures dotted along the body, they may hold more significance in comparison to the more superficial, shallow means of beauty.

Because tattoos are essentially permanent and cover up a portion of your skin, you are ultimately altering a portion of your identity. While for many, this is no big deal, there are those who come in to get a tattoo with the purpose of changing a part of who they are and potentially leaving that part of their body in the past. There has been a recent trend where tattoos function to cover up scarring on the body. This scarring can be from self-harm, unpredictable accidents, domestic violence, or human trafficking. Some tattoo artists will work with the scar to create a humorous and ingenious design, while some use the tattoo to cover the scar up entirely.

Image Courtesy: Tattoodo

Many self-harm victims will choose tattoos that cover up their scars of the past. This process can be very healing to these individuals, as the tattoo can help to alleviate the pain while serving as a reminder of how far this person has come. The same goes for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Typically, when people experience traumatic events, the site of the scene can be very triggering to their emotional state. However, when your own body is the site of a great deal of physical and emotional pain, you can sometimes feel trapped. It can be difficult to look at your body in the same way after it has been tainted with painful memories. Such intricate designs often serve a greater purpose than meets the eye.

While tattoos can serve to help victims of traumatic events, they can also help ex-offenders reclaim a new life for themselves. In prison, one has a lot of time to reflect on any of their past decisions. Many decide to turn their life around through religious means and this can be exemplified through tattoos; some do it through religiously affiliated designs. The permanence of the tattoo acts as this commitment to the idea of being good. While religion does not necessarily mean that you are a good or ethical person, the cross is used as a symbol of the intentional path to better oneself.

A tattoo, by its literal definition, is a superficial part of your body. It lays on top of your skin for eternity. For many, it's an art form with aesthetic significance. For others, it's also a form of reclaiming and changing your identity.

Strike Out,

Writer: Isabella Botero

Editors: Noelle Knowlton & Lexi Fernandez

Tallahassee