History of women with tattoos. Wow.....

[Little Star]

Having never giving tattoos much thought, I found this quite interesting. Who was to know that mastectomy patients found help from tattoo artists? Not me. And some of the artistry in the article is quite beautiful.


Stunning: Beautiful tattoos, such as this inked bra, have become popular with cancer survivors who use them to conceal post-mastectomy scars



DailyMail
By Ruth Styles
30 January 2013

Most people think of tattoos as a modern phenomenon. But according to new book, Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoos, the so-called tramp stamp has a much longer history than we realise.

From the woman who was tattooed as part of a Native American religious rite to the upper class Victorian society women who went crazy for tattoos, getting inked has been part of subversive subculture for centuries.


And while covering your body with tattoos has become part of a popular trend for body decoration, for Olive Oatman, one of the first white women ever to be given a tattoo, it wasn't a matter of choice.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2270600/History-womens-tattoos-From-Native-Americans-cancer-victims-tatts-instead-breast-reconstruction.html

[polly7]

1. Wow! Beautiful! nt.

[TlalocW]

2. Do they cover the importance of

Lydia, the Tattoo'ed Lady?

TlalocW

[Buzz Clik]

6. On her back is the Battle of Waterloo

Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus, too
And proudly above waves the red, white and blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. Have you seen this?

http://grandgame.net/game/dubya_2/dubya_2.swf

It originally was on the now closed toostupidtobepresident.com prior to the 2000 election.

[Buzz Clik]

17. A long time ago. Sigh

The cartoon pulled no punches, and it was dead on.

[Helen Reddy]

3. How gorgeous!

My lovely lady has one "around this area".

[redqueen]

4. Fascinating, thank you!

K&R

[4_TN_TITANS]

5. Makes no sense - Tat inks are carcinogenic.

Recently published studies have found that the inks can contain a host of dodgy substances, including some phthalates, metals, and hydrocarbons that are carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.
One chemical commonly used to make black tattoo ink called benzo(a)pyrene is known to be a potent carcinogen that causes skin cancer in animal tests.
Coloured inks often contain lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, titanium and other heavy metals that could trigger allergies or diseases, scientists say.
Some pigments are industrial grade dyes 'suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint,' according to an FDA fact sheet.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2032696/Now-tattoos-cancer-U-S-regulator-probes-fears-inks-contain-carcinogenic-chemicals.html

I was fine with my soon-to-be legal daughters getting tats until I found this on DU.

[DollarBillHines]

7. Key word - "some"

Basically, you get what you pay for.

Reputable artists don't use crap ink.

[a la izquierda]

9. As dollarbill posted...

like anything else in this world, you get what you pay for. I recently had a large mole removed from my back as a result of sun damage as a teenager. My tattoo artist asked about my ink and only told me to pay particular attention to moles that might appear under my tattoos. But he had no beef with the work and no fear of my getting skin cancer as a result.

However, I don't go to shit hole tattoo studios.

[Little Star]

11. I have no idea but the article you posted is from 2011 and..

I tried looking to see if the FDA or anyone has said more about this but couldn't find any updates on this particular issue.

[DollarBillHines]

8. One of my business partners has the most beautiful tattoo I have ever seen

It covers the fact that her left nipple seems to have gone missing.

[a la izquierda]

10. Rad, thanks for posting.

I'm covered...well, covered in spots I can hide for work- though most of my students love seeing my tattoos if they catch me out at the stores. The older I get, the less I care about others seeing my art.

[Sissyk]

13. That is so beautiful!

I hope it makes her (and others) feel good about themselves and gives an extra boost of confidence.

[srican69]

14. It looks great but ...

where the F*** are the nipples ?

[butterflygirl]

16. I believe she had a mastectomy.

The tats are to cover up the scars. Great idea.

[srican69]

18. I feel like a total asshole...

[butterflygirl]

15. I'm a 66 year old grandmother of 7, soon to be 8, and three great-grandchildren.

Got my first tat when I was 50. Since then I've acquired a few more and as you might have guessed most of them are butterflies. I have some chinese writing, cherry blossoms and a heart with my deceased son's name along with his birthday and date of death as a memorial. I'm thinking about having his portrait done sometime soon. My tats are all beautiful works of art and I get so many compliments for them. Yes, there are some that give me that strange look but I don't care, I sometimes tell them to take a picture it lasts longer. My husband has 2 full sleeves which he got over the years which he loves showing off to everyone. Our grandchildren think we are the coolest grandparents, ever.