
According to a middle-aged man I met a month ago, the corner shop here attracts customers new and returning by offering free piercing service (not the jewelry, of course) on Tuesdays. Between word of mouth and social media (digital word of mouth) it seems there are many seats in the waiting area filled when they open on a Tuesday, particularly during the summer vacation when young people are not at school. Impressionistically the majority seem under the age of 25 and more females than males can be seen through the window.
Tattoo culture has many strands now and in the generations long before the proliferation of body art since the millennium arrived. Some people wish to mark an event and life status or some other commemoration. Others have no deep reasons or longed for imagery to commit to the body's largest organ. They simply tag along with friends on a dare. Groups may come in to mark an occasion of solidarity. Politically minded people may wish to reserve a piece of their publicly visible skin for a message in text or picture for the world to see. Others take the opposite approach when choosing theme, text, size and style, as well as location (visible or not). But why young women and girls should be most numerous is a sociological or developmental riddle to ponder: maybe eagerness to be like peers at the same time are seeking a mark of individuality, in essence saying, "yes, I belong; but yet I am different, too." Idle speculating requires tempering by actual conversations to explore the many opinions and points of view for 2024 customers.
Press L for lightbox (large) view; click the image or press Z for full image display.
Hover the mouse pointer over the image for pop-up remarks.