Why are women expected to only have small nonvisible tattoos?

Question

I'm just wondering why men expect women to have small tattoos that can be covered up. I have 4, but I chose to have a black phoenix on the inside of my forearm tattooed as a memorial for my father (he had a blue phoenix on his arm when he died). I later want to add symbols for "Father" tattooed near the bird.

I haven't really gotten any negative feedback from it, but I just noticed that a lot of people on this forum think that women should only have them small, cute in nonvisible locations.

Do guys prefer small cute tattoos like butterflies and flowers on women, or do some prefer that the tattoos have some kind of meaning? I'll never regret mine, but I think it's unfair that my father was covered in tattoos without anyone questioning him, yet some think it's "unusual" for me to have a large tat in a visible spot like my arm. It's a bit of a double standard. Your thoughts? Thanks for answering.

Answer 1

Personally I don't see any reason why men and women should be treated differently with regard to tattoos. But I agree with you, there's often a double standard. It also often comes out in the many, many questions which purely ask whether women with tattoos are still attractive, as if a woman's only role in life is to be looked at by men.

I think that very often the people who believe that 'small cute' tattoos are OK on women but larger ones aren't probably just haven't given it all that much thought from this angle. They have a sort of vague idea that tattoos are 'unfeminine', and that women should therefore only get 'cute' tattoos to counteract this, without having really considered the implications of these ideas - the fact that it suggests that a woman's main function is to be attractive, to appeal to other people, to be non-threatening; that she's a visual object rather than a human being with a head full of valid, interesting, unique ideas. Which I think is pretty sad, really.

In some ways I actually find this halfway-house suggestion that teeny-tiny flowers and hearts and butterflies are OK on women, but nothing else is, even more irritating than those people who just don't like tattoos full stop. Although I do like tattoos, I don't expect everyone else to as well. But the whole point of tattoos is that they can express anything you want them to, and to suggest that women should be restricted to certain subjects, sizes and placements when choosing their tattoos in order to 'fit in' is really hypocritical. There's nothing wrong with flowers, butterflies and so on; they can make great tattoos and if someone does want them, that's fine. If that's the tattoo someone truly wants then it's great, in fact. But I suspect that in some cases women are half-heartedly driven to get these kinds of tattoos for fear that if they got anything more individual and personal, people would ask too many questions and look down their noses, and that's such a shame.

So what I would say is, well done you for getting the tattoos you wanted! The more people do that, and show the world why it's important, the less 'cuteness' will be the main issue, and the better off we'll all be.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

There is definately a double standard but don't let it bother you. If you are going to have tattoos, especially the kind that are different, then you have to go into not worrying about what others think.
People also target women for the most part when it comes to the whole "when you get saggy and old" issue as well.
Just let it roll off your back! Your tattoo sounds wonderful.

Answer 3

i have tattoos covering my forearms and i get alot of oh why did you do that ?youre such a pretty girl.uh i guess if i was ugly then it would be ok?my hubby even said that girls with sleeves arent appealing to him.then i come home with the beginning of a sleeve!!now hes the first to brag about my tats and hes my biggest supporter.i even got him to get a tat!!really i dont care what people think.obviously if i did i wouldnt have tats all over my arms.i think men still see tattoos as a masculine thing so when a women has ones that arent cute little flowers then they dont see the women as being feminine anymore.which we all know is crap!!

Answer 4

I don't think women are expected to only have small nonvisible tattoos. I have 3, one huge ankh on my back, a star on my wrist and a big heart on my ankle. And I've never gotten any non positive feedback from them. I think you should get a big tattoo if you can handle it. physically and and socially. *shrugs* hope that made sense.

Answer 5

I don't happen to be a fan of tattoo's but can accept them being on men better than on women.
I think if you get a tattoo it should be somewhere on your body that can be covered up especially at work. I know some work places don't care but at the office I work at if you have one it had better not be visible.

Answer 6

You are an individual!! Did you hear or see where a woman Who had Breast Cancer and had both breast removed! She has run for breast cancer research runs to raise money.She had a whole Front piece that exspresses alot of her happiness and pains she has gone thru loosing Both of her Breast in an attempt to save her life hopefully for many years~Would you or anyone here be offended if you saw this mother/grandmother running in a breast cancer fund raiser"if she Ran With Her Shirt Off? I say Heck Np! would you be ashamed or embarressed for her.Wether you meet or saw her maybe with your family etc,?
I say more power and stregnth to her and If I were in her shoes and I could I would do the same and Run with her..

Answer 7

i think whatever tattoo a person chooses to get is not another person`s business!!! i have many female friends with more tattoos than some men, & they are never at a loss for male admirers...i currently only have 1 tattoo, but am planning to get at least 2 more within the year...my boyfriend likes my tattoo & knows of my plans to get more & he supports me...personally, i could care less if men like my tattoos or not, i do them for me & no one else...if i happened to be dating a guy who objected to me getting more, sorry!!! that fella can hit the road!!!

Answer 8

there are tons of people who don't think your having visible tattoos is unusual or wrong. once upon a time it was unusual for a woman to work outside of the home. once upon a time it was unusual for a woman to not be married by the time she was 21. times are changing and one day it won't be unusual for women to be proudly tattood and accepted by the majority.

Answer 9

I think it depends completely on the person and who they hang out with.

I don't like tattoos on men or women, but that's just me, and that shouldn't have even the smallest impact on you.

Ultimately, you have to do what makes you happy and choose what looks good to you, and that's the best choice.

Answer 10

women are suposed to be "dainty" and cute, so thus they cant have trashy ink. if girls have tattos society think they should be small and cute like flowers and hearts and sh*t.

personally i love tats. and im a chick, if i wasnt so broke, then id get covered.
i dont care what guys think aboyut my tats, i would rather have a guy that liked my tats and i liked his.