“When talking about tattoo culture in the United States, it has personally become difficult for me not to think about gender and its role in the culture. Why is it so astounding for society to witness a tattooed woman in this supposedly modern day and age? Then there are other instances of touching without permission – for instance, pregnant women’s stomachs – which are female centered. What is it about the female body in the public arena which presents the opportunity for the invasion of privacy and personal space? Is this only an occurrence for women who have somehow modified their bodies, naturally or artificially? Or is it a systematic problem, a demonstration of the way American society views women and their bodies?â€
http://thealtlibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/05/tattoo-paper.html
one of the many things I love about the internet is just roaming and finding gems. Gems of music (got some of that recently too) and gems of writing or study.
I enjoyed this essay quite a bit—especially as I contemplate my bit of ink. I’d like to get a portrait of Miss Ninny, but after that I’d like to branch out and work on a sleeve on my left arm.
That is the arm with all the scars. I don’t think I can get rid of the scars, so I’d like to cover them up. I’m contemplating quotations from T.S. Eliot, a tableau of books, perhaps the wife of Bath. Just to my elbow.
I’m going to be quite an interesting grandma –but I’ve got years until then.
gender roles are on my mind lately too, especially as we as a country move to a place where women’s bodies are controlled by men, from head to toe.