What?

As a female with clearly visible tattoos, I think shes being silly. Of course people complement on them. Shes got a full sleeve, ffs. As a tattoo lover, I think nothing of complimenting a woman or a man on a nice piece. I get asked many of the same questions. I expect them and I really dont care either way. What do they mean? Ahh, various things. Did they hurt? Of course, a little. Do you like getting them? Yes, I do. What does your boyfriend thinK? He loves me so it doesnt matter to him how many I have. Does he have any? No.

It comes with the territory. Period. Id think she knew that before she got them. It IS a badass sleve. If someone said that to me, Id say Thanks! Hell... I complimented a total stranger on his tattoos just yesterday.

Still awaiting moderation.

“If I wanted the public to have access to this art, I would work to display it in a museum.”

If you allow the art to be visible to the public, they have access to it.

As a feminist, she knows well the power of images. As a scholar she should know that hardly any modern art critics, historians or theorists think that Art is only found in museums.

I understand some of her concerns about the male gaze, but then her argument goes off the rails.

She does make only one point that I can say yeah, that bothers me too. And that involves the touching but its very, very rare. And Ive realized over the years that most people dont mean to violate my personal space in any nefarious way. Some people are just inclined to touch tattoos... both man and women.

But, as you said, he argument goes off the rails. Ridiculously so. If youre going to tell me your tattoos are not for me, then dont show them to me and the rest of the world. Ive never encountered a woman that held this womans views about society's reaction to her tattoos. Most of them are smart enough to know, as she should have, that tattoos, especially large ones, draw attention. Ugh.

Hey! Hey! Look at me! Look at me!
Looks to see what commotion is about
Male gaze! Pig! Come and see the sexism inherent in the system! Did you see that? this is what I'm all about! Come and see the sexism inherent in the system!

This is just attention-seeking bullshit. What's something to prompt some proper and deserved rage?

This.



Was in a thread yesterday. Kelly is now the #2 employer in the nation, #1 is walmart.

That ad calls for kneecaps to be broken.

I personally never had a relationship or even a date with a tattooed lady.I find it a big turn off.

It's like being pregnant; a situation that too many people think its ok to comment or touch.

If on one hand it's about people being presumptous--verbalized judgment and especially unwanted touching--then yeah right on.

But, objecting to people raising them in ordinary conversation seems a bit preposterous, especially given:

Which is what most in the thread seem to be saying. What caught my eye was the touching part; I think her article would have been better served by sticking to a "my tattoo isn't a invitation to touch"

Still, tattoos are stigmatized, the lower back ones are still called "tramp stamps". Tattooed women are far more commonplace thank god, so there is far less stigma and assumptions of character. That's not to say they don't exist.

displays on parts of her body visible to the public? I don't get that....

That said, tattoos are like certain choices in clothing or other personal "possessions"-- everyone should have the right to decide what works for them. Others are going to express their own esthetic viewpoints, whether one wishes them to or not. Rude? often, yes. But, like the old adage about the ubiquitous nature of opinions....