Skin, an ancient media booming in popularity
Source: www.ljs.com
Topic: Tattoo
Sort Desciption: Earliest record of tattoos date back to ancient Egypt, Polynesia, ... Tattoos are worn as a symbol of solidarity by people who share a lack of power but do ...
Content Inside: Skin, An Ancient Media Booming In Popularity July 5, 2007 Earliest record of tattoos date back to ancient Egypt, Polynesia, and Japan when tattoos were used as a mark of social status, tribal identity, and sexual lure. With the creation of monotheism, tattoos became a pagan rite. Prohibition against idol worship and the notion that man is made in the image of god outlawed self mutilization or the use of the skin as a medium of graphic expression. In Western civilization, tattooing was removed from the mainstream culture but continued as a form of expression that marked the wearer as a member of a subculture. Tattoos are worn as a symbol of solidarity by people who share a lack of power but do essential and often high risk work, including the military as well as manual labor. They are worn as well as an assertion of independence from authority and social rules. Over the last twenty years, tattoos have moved from these niches into the mainstream. A study conducted by Leo J. Shapiro & Associates in 2005 found that 15% of U.S. adults are wearing a tattoo. 1 This percentage declines directly with age, reflecting the growing popularity of wearing tattoos. Among adults who grew up during and prior to world war two, those sixty and over, just 8% report having tattoos. Among adults growing up in the post world war two years, the baby boomers age 45 to 59, tattoos are also worn by 8%. Among adults age 30-44, the percentage rises to 22% and among adults under 30 it rises precipitously to 37%. The popularity of tattooing can be seen by the presence of women in the tattoo market. Among the 60 and over population, most tattoos are worn by men. Between the ages of 45-59, 7% of tattoos were women. At ages 30-44 the percentage of women rises to 8% and nearly quadruples to 39% among the under 30 group of women. 1 September 2005. National survey of 450 U.S. households interviewed by telephone divided equally between men and women. 1 Percent Tattooed by Ge ...
