Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo

95 The Tattooist
your baby because that is allowing the woman to control her
body. But you can't set up a shop where people can freely
choose to get a tattoo without the bastards fucking with you.
Right after we opened up here the first thing that happened
was that the police came in here and arrested
[tattooisUemployeel. The local councilman saw us and'he told
the police to come in here and harass us. He only did that
because he couldn't come in here and kill us. If he had his way
he would just as soon come in and beat the shit out of us. The
assholes just want someone to beat on and they think we're
just outlaws. They couldn't do it if we were organized, but this
is such a cutthroat business you can't get anyone to work
together. Everyone is just out for themselves. I can see why. I
don't want tattooing legal everywhere, I'd loose a lot of business
if tattooing was legal in Massachusetts. If it were legal
everywhere then there would be a tattoo studio on every corner
and nobody would be making any money.
As members of a stigmatized occupational minority, tattoo artists
see themselves as haVing little recourse to mechanisms by
which they can effectively combat legal or interpersonal discrimination.
All of those interviewed saw themselves as doing what
they could to personally alter the negative public image of tattooing.
They took some pains to structure the shop environment so
it was clean, bright, and entirely unlike the "bucket of blood" image
in the public mind. Tattooists also attempted to combat their
unsavory reputation by creating tattoos that were technically accomplished,
avoiding the inscription of socially inflammatory images,
and turning down client requests to tattoo overtly public
skin. The fine art oriented tattooists, in particular, saw their concentration
on custom designed. nontraditional images as being a
step towards redefining tattooing as a legitimate, and thereby,
publicly acceptable, art form.
If the person who is going to wear the tattoo has the choice
and they want a heart with 'Mom'-"Oh, I didn't know I could
have this also. Gee, now I can make an intelligent choice." If
the person who is going to wear the tattoo is offered a choiceskulls
and daggerS-it's fine. As long as the person realizes