I'm doing a research paper for school and I was wondering if some people could give me some feedback.

Question:
Why did you get the tattoo that you did?

Choices:
To prove that you were an adult and could do whatever you wanted
As a memorial for someone who has passed away
Just because you liked the design
For fashion purposes
To annoy your parents

 

i don't have a tattoo yet, but i'm far into planning my first one! yay!

none of those choices really apply to why i want to get it. i want to get it to remember a certain time and also because i love the design.

Sorry, but none of the possible choices above applies to me 100%
I wanted a tattoo ever since I was 13, because I was fascinated by this art my whole life basically. When I turned 16 I wanted one desperately "to be cool", but my father did not allow and I am glad about it.
By now I have a tattoo which I designed myself. It represents some parts of my character, parts of my attitude towards life and stands for a lot of memories. I finally got it, because a new period of my life was about to start, and this tattoo made me feel a bit stronger and selfconfident about what comes next.

You see, the reasons why I got my first tattoo are plenty, every one adding a bit to the final decision. But it was definately not becuase of fashion, to annoy my parents or to prove how grown up I am =)
Okay, you could say I liked the design *laughs*

Courtsey,
Ahoy,
Cpt.Butterfly

I agree with you. I got my first tattoo when I was 15, and I will admit it was stupid to get one done that early. I don't regret it by any means, but I know I should have waited. I've been fascinated with tattoos for as long as I can remember. I thought up the designs on 4 out of 5 of them, because I don't like flash for the most part. I think the main reason I got any tattoos was simply because I liked the artwork and knowing that they all had a meaning.

I got my first tattoo at 44, I don't think I would have gotten it any sooner. It took me a long time to find something I felt strongly enough about to get it tattooed. And yes, my parents might be annoyed by it but I've been on my own since I was 19 so they don't have much to say.
Why did I choose what I did? Basically to make a statement about older women and how our society values youth. I chose butterflies because they live for a total of 116 days and in the last stage of their lives they are the most beautiful. Also there's a personal statement about how they get locked away for part of their lives in a chrysalis like a lot of us were pidgeon-holed into what we "should" do. Then in the end, we break free and become what we're meant to be.
I found an awesome artist, he recreated photographs of specific butterflies, he tied it together with a branch that runs from my left hip, across my lower back and up to my bra-line on the right. It looks fantastic! Later this year I'll add a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis (representing me) and two unopened ones representing my 14 and 10 yr old daughters, hopefully they'll break out sooner than I did.

I wrote a 25 page paper on the culture of tattoos as well as the people last year. It was an awesome experience, I had wanted a tattoo for a while before that but doing the paper and getting into the culture and realizing that it was more than just ink was a seriously profound time for me.

Eleanor, that's fantastic. I would love to read your paper. Would you be mind emailing it to me for a read? t.tattoo@gmail.com

this sounds like a great paper. I just tried to do a poll, and found that it really didn't give enough of the reasons why we do it.
Are those the only reasons you're concerned with?

My first and definately not my last was a memorial for my kids. Neither lived and my tat was the beging of my personal road to heling. Next is another dragon on the oposite leg with the words control the beast to remind me that no matter what I should stay calm in the face of adversity. Something that is very hard for meas I have a short fuse on a volitile temper.

I got my first at 42 and it was MOST DEFINITELY because I LOVED the design. The meaning behind it is very near and dear to me and I was ecstatic that I found an artist that could do the concept justice... couldn't be happier.

None of the above reasons apply to me either. I got my first tat at 18, and for me it was sort of a "right of passage", I was new to the Marine Corps so some buddies and I all went out one night to get them. I didn't like the designs on the wall, so I drew it up myself right there. After some tinkering by the artist and I, I had exactly what I wanted. I have four tats now with plans for more. I have drawn or altered all of my tats, so they are unique to me. I can't wait for my next, which I'm designing now.

Got my first and only (so far) for far different reasons. I picked my first because it meant a lot to me and when I discussed it with the artist, he came up with GREAT ideas that made my original concept even better. I carry my in proudly and did it for nobody else but me...

If you want to check it out... look for "Whyte Panther - Four Spirits One Path"

If you're getting a tatto to prove ANYTHING to ANYBODY... think again.

It HAS TO BE for you and ONLY you first!!!