Purposes
The most common purpose for wearing a tattoo is cosmetic.
Tattoos serve several purposes, depending on the individual and his or her culture. Some of the common purposes include-
a) Cosmetic
The most common purpose for wearing a tattoo is cosmetic. It is more often sported to give an ‘in with the trend’, permanently made-up, cool look. It is also employed for permanently coloring the lips, giving a thin lining over the eye lids (liner effect), enhancing eyebrows for those with scanty ones and so on. Natural colors are employed to blend well with the individual’s skin tone.
b) Identification
Tattooing was once the chief method of identification among several tribes such as the Maoris who used their facial tatoos as the insignia in place of their signature.
Tattoos are near permanent and are not destroyed by ravages of fire or any other natural elements. The permanency associated with the tattoos has resulted in its association with the military of USA and Great Britain. Many members of the military permanently tattoo their ID details (slang- ‘meat tag’) on their chest.
It was common for seafarers to sport a tattoo to enable identification in case of drowning. There are tattooists who work in ports due to the availability of customers. The Royal Navy of Great Britain continues the custom to date.
In the past, it was not unusual for people to be forcibly tattooed. The Jews, who were tattooed for reasons of identification, are the most common examples.
Animals are also tattooed more for identification as with branding than for decorative purposes.
c) Medical
Tattoos are sometimes employed for medical reasons. During repeated radiotherapy, it is sometimes used to mark a site to ensure that the radiation is directed there. Tattooing is also used to mark a person’s blood group although this practice is not widespread. During breast reconstruction tattoos help to mark the areola on the breasts. It is used to even out or neutralize hypo or hyper pigmented areas on a person’s skin.
d) Negative associations
Distinct tattoos may also indicate allegiance to certain offbeat religious congregations, satanic cults or criminal gangs. The ‘tebori’ method of hand-etched tattoos are distictly characteristic of the Yazuka, which are criminal gangs originally operating in Japan. Members of criminal gangs and many prison birds in the US use distinctive tattoos that almost serve as their ID tag.
Individuals involved in the oldest known trade, prostitution, are also known to sport specific tattoos.
e) Others
Tattoos are etched as symbols of rank or status, bravery, fertility, spirituality and rites of passage. They are employed to punish or brand a criminal, a slave or an outcast. Tattoos also serve many as a talisman, to ward off evil. Members of Amazonian tribes believe that the pain generated while crafting a tattoo would unify them with their favorite deity.
Tattoos have been used to profess love and to sexually lure the opposite sex. It is very common to see the lover’s name tattood on the arm or chest of a fervent lover as an emphatic expression of undying love.
