Tattoo Subculture: Creating a Personal Identity in the Context of Social Stigma

Abstract

Tattooing is a growing and diversifying practice in the United States (Roberts, 2012), yet mainstream society maintains negative stigmas (Bell, 1999). Nevertheless, individuals attach personal meaning to tattooing (Atkinson, 2002; Kosut, 2000). There is little literature on the tattooed individual’s experience of social stigmatization and its impact on identity construction. This study employed a phenomenological approach to address this gap in the literature. The researcher used a semi-structured protocol to interview seven tattooed individuals (five men, two women; age range 25 - 38 years). Data analysis extracted three main themes: “identity project,” “cultural context,” and “tattoo timeline.” Findings suggest stigmas associated with tattoos remain embedded in the cultural context, most significantly within career. This finding has implications for career counseling. However, participants intentionally defined themselves outside negative stereotypes, and described a sense of community within the tattoo subculture.